Denis Orval Lapalme (April 29, 1959 – November 1, 2021) was a Canadian amputee athlete and actor, most noted as a competitor and medalist at the Paralympic Games.Robert Lagacé, "Denis Lapalme heureux d'avoir vécu dans le «secret» sur grand écran". L'Acadie Nouvelle, October 13, 2015.
Born in Timmins, Ontario, Lapalme lost both legs in a train accident in childhood.Randy Phillips, "Lapalme leads way to Defi crown". Montreal Gazette, May 5, 1997. As an adult he was based principally in Ottawa, where he worked as a civil servant.
Athletic career He competed in swimming at the 1976 Summer Paralympics in Toronto, winning a bronze medal in the men's 100-metre freestyle and a silver in the men's 100-metre breaststroke.
At the 1980 Summer Paralympics in Arnhem, Netherlands, he competed in both track and swimming, winning gold medals in the men's 100-metre sprint, javelin and 100-meter backstroke, a silver medal in the 100-metre breaststroke, and a bronze medal in the 100-metre freestyle.
Lapalme competed on the men's wheelchair basketball team at both the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, South KoreaRick Mayoh, "Strong Canadian team in medal chase at Seoul Paralympics". Ottawa Citizen, October 15, 1988. and the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain."Paralympic gold for Regina racer". Edmonton Journal, September 9, 1992. but the team did not medal at either event.
He also competed nationally and internationally in other track and wheelchair basketball competitions below the Paralympic level,"Bronze for Canada". Edmonton Journal, August 12, 1990. including at the IWAS World Games in 1979."Canadians add gold in Stoke Mandeville". The Globe and Mail, September 1, 1979.
Although no longer active as a Paralympic competitor after 1992, he remained involved in sports as late as the early 2010s as captain of the Ottawa Sledgehammers, the city's sledge hockey team."Diverse mix of players produces winning formula for Ottawa Sledgehammers". Toronto.com, April 21, 2011. Lapalme died on November 1, 2021, in Hull, Quebec at the age of 62 of brain cancer.
Acting Following the end of his Paralympic career he was cast in his first acting role, as Jerome of Sandy Cove in Phil Comeau's 1994 film Jerome's Secret."The Acadian Tale About A Mysterious Amputee". Canada AM, March 30, 1995. He subsequently had small parts in the films Bleeders and Two Lovers and a Bear, and an episode of the television series F/X: The Series.
References
External links