From fencing in a small-town Sask. church to Paris: Ryan Rousell’s journey to the 2024 Paralympics [Video]

Ryan Rousell can often be found at the church in his hometown of Asquith, Sask.

That’s because the church in the small town, just west of Saskatoon, doubles as Rousell’s training ground for wheelchair fencing. The 27-year-old is preparing for his second trip to the Paralympics, with the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games set to start next week.

Rousell was born prematurely and lives with cerebral palsy, which affects his motor skills on his right side. His right leg is shorter, has less muscle mass and is slower to respond to commands than his left.

That didn’t stop him from falling in love with fencing. He convinced his friends to join the Asquith Garde Fencing Club and competed with other non-disabled teammates for years.

“It just became a passion for me,” Rousell said. “Just the mental and physical challenge of it is really engaging. It’s kind of like playing … chess …