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Cardston athlete set to compete in sitting volleyball at Tokyo Paralympic Games

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Cardston’s Payden (Olsen) Vair is ready to represent Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games next week.

It’s been three years since a the former Lethbridge College Kodiaks soccer player had her right leg amputated below the knee after a life-changing lawnmower accident on her family farm.

Vair made her Team Canada sitting volleyball debut at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Peru and earned a bronze medal.

Now, she says she can’t wait for the chance to help her team compete in the Paralympics – a dream that’s been on pause for the past year due to COVID-19.

“I’m so excited that I got to reach the next level and represent such an amazing country. I love the way that everything has turned out and I wouldn’t change a thing. I mean, I would love to play soccer again but I’m also loving where I am with volleyball. I hope that the more I talk about it, the more people can learn about the Paralympics and sitting volleyball. It’s such a cool sport and we’re ready to compete for Canada.”

Preliminary round action for Team Canada starts next Friday, Aug. 27 against Brazil.

Canada is currently ranked fifth in the world.

Tina Karst
Tina Karst
A Lethbridge College alumnus, Tina moved back to the community two years after convocation, in September 2007, to become a member of the CJOC News Team. She started as a weekend reporter/anchor and now serves as Associate News Director. When Tina's not tracking down local news, she's either busy at home with Jordan and their two kids or creating custom macrame pieces for a growing list of clients.
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