More Than Our Story
Stephen LaSalle
Stephen LaSalle is a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces and a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. After losing his leg following a training accident, he discovered para triathlon and achieved world classification to represent Canada, proving that anything is possible.
Highlights
I always had a desire to serve others... In my 30s, I had the opportunity to join the reserves, working with the cadet program, and I saw it as a great opportunity. It gives back and serves our country... So I joined the military... (spending) 12 years working both as a cadet instructor and then later on in a public affairs role.
What it meant to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal:
It was great to receive that recognition from the crown and my chain of command for all the time that I had given to that point, working with the news in our local community.
I often say that there's no better job in the military than having the opportunity to work with young people to help find and demonstrate their true potential in life, and allowing them to go on and achieve greater things than they saw remotely possible before they joined the cadet program.
The most rewarding part of working with the armed forces:
Being selected to represent the Canadian Forces in 2013, in the Nijmegen Marches in the Netherlands. It's a four-day march through the Dutch countryside, 40 kilometers a day, with 45 pounds on your back - it was a huge highlight to do that.
During physical training, I rolled my ankle. I damaged some ligaments, damaged a nerve, and developed a rare nerve injury called complex regional pain syndrome. The damaged nerve short-circuits. It no longer sends the right message to the brain. In terms of pain, they rate the pain scale 42 out of 50... The brain's not able to regulate the swelling. So the foot becomes the size of the thigh.
After two years of trying different meds and treatments to get the nerve damage under control, it began spreading and progressing to the point where, if they didn't amputate, I would have lost my whole leg.
At the beginning, the doctors really didn't know what was going on. It was a year later, when a surgeon whom I was referred to for the ligament damage identified the nerve injury. Right away, he was very open and transparent that my prospects for recovery were not the best, and further specialists reiterated that it became not about making me better, but trying to provide me with some form of quality of life that I was able to manage.
It was a decision to try to give me some quality of life back, and the surgery was successful for the most part. I've been good. I’m fully active now in my wheelchair. I can't wear a prosthetic, but you know, I'm happy that we went through with the amputation, and that I’ve been provided with a second chance.
My new reality took a lot of getting used to... I really went from a Type-A personality type of person... to not being able to do very much at all. It really hit me hard.
It's something that I still struggle with a bit. I try to be tough and stoic. There's a lot of frustration that comes with all of a sudden missing a leg and not being able to do things the way that you used to be able to do them, or in some cases, not even being able to do them anymore because it's simply too dangerous or too difficult.
I know early on, as my injury progressed and my mental health deteriorated, being physically active again was something that helped manage the darkness. I needed that rush every day, doing something physically active to help me with my mental health. And it just grew more and more into needing it as I became able to do things, and triathlons just became a natural fit for me.
It gave me the routine and schedule I needed during the day, but it also gave me the push that I'm used to - challenging my body and pushing it through something extreme.
On discovering para triathlon?
Last year. A friend from the gym had seen an email come across the veteran open house for paratriathlon and asked if I'd like to go with her to find out about it, and I did, and I immediately fell in love with it. I thought it was a great challenge for me. It was difficult. It was something outside my comfort zone.
I successfully completed four triathlons last year. At the end of the season, I was eager to get going again this summer. I got into masters swimming as a way over the winter to help improve my swimming, and just really fell in love with the whole endurance sport concept.
This year, I started the season out completing six triathlons... (I also received) world-class classification in July, which allows me now to compete, when I'm ready, at an international level.
I also had the opportunity to compete in a World Cup triathlon for the first time in Magog, Quebec. I've been really fortunate to have a great coaching team and a great group of supporters... and become recognized within the para community and the triathlon community for my achievements.
We're looking at getting into some continental cups within the new year... and really showing people how it's done.
On why not all courses are open to hand cycles:
The design of the course is the first factor, and hills are an important part. I believe it's nine degrees, which is the maximum pitch for a hand cycling course for para. Then there's another one for the running portion. It really requires (race directors and course planners) working with Triathlon Canada, or Triathlon Ontario, to have a course that is designed for para athletes.
I spend a lot of time working here in Quebec with Triathlon Quebec, and they are incredibly supportive of para athletes, and working with me in particular to make sure that their courses and their setup are supportive and inclusive so that I can participate, which has been fabulous.
Now that I'm up at the international level, the equipment I've been using has been either demo equipment or second-hand. And it's time that we need to procure equipment that's properly fitted, and allows me to compete at a higher level. So, relying on sponsors will be the way to go forward.
I’ve raced two Sundays in a row now. The previous Sunday was in the Barrie Triathlon, which is a great triathlon put on by MultiSport Canada. This past weekend was in Valleyfield, Quebec, through Triathlon Quebec, Triathlon Valleyfield.
One of the things I struggle with, being somebody with PTSD, is open water swimming. That's been traditionally my weakest of the three sports. And the last two Sundays, I had really good swim times of just around 20 minutes consistently in both triathlons, which the coaches were very impressed with.
I'm looking at doing the challenge series (Challenge Barcelona Triathlon) in Barcelona in October.
There's no better thrill than being able to compete for your country, especially as a para athlete. We're so few and far between that it's great to be out there competing in these triathlons amongst able-bodied athletes.
I've learned that I'm capable of a lot more than I think I am... I've become a whole different person as a result of the accident, and I've slowly become much stronger, mentally, and much more capable person than I was before the accident.
Don't give up. Don't surrender yourself to the darkness in your mind. Anything you want to do, you can surely do. You know, sometimes it will require adaptation or changes, but there's nothing stopping you from achieving your dreams or what you want to do in life.
Stephen LaSalle
Stephen’s website. Learn about his story, team, sponsors, upcoming events, and more.
Visit and follow Stephen LaSalle’s Instagram page.
Daniel
Additional Profiles
Steve Veasey
Steve Veasey candidly discusses his life, his epilepsy, and how his journey has brought him back full circle to his first love - illustration.
Danielle Patrice
Danielle shares her incredible story of survival against domestic violence and how she now advocates and champions for those who have lost their own voice and agency to this evil.
Jillian Best
Jillian Best shares her inspiring journey from liver transplant recipient to becoming a world record holding swimmer and the first transplant recipient to swim across Lake Ontario.
Eric Pothen
Eric shares his story from struggling with an eating disorder, to coaching people to help heal their relationship with food and their bodies.
Barrie Shepley
Legendary coach, commentator, and voice of triathlon Barrie Shepley discusses his love for the sport and how he got started.
Ned Phillips
Ned shares his love for ultrarunning and where his mind goes when faced with the immense physical and mental strain that comes along with it.
Bob Knuckey
Bob Knuckey, 75-year-young, endurance athlete extraordinaire became a 2-time, age-group IRONMAN world champion this year in Nice, France.
Joe Tolles
Joe Tolles is a semi-retired, professional hockey player, CrossFit gym owner/operator, organ donor, and inspiration to others.
Daniel Hight
The inaugural profile is none other than Daniel Hight, founder of More Than Our Story.
Kieren O’Hanlon
Kieren opens up about his health challenges, and how he is still perfecting the balance of being a loving husband, father and his well-being.
Mark Opauszky
Mark Opauszky shares his story of unbelievable resilience in his fight against necrotizing fasciitis.
Stephen Glaus
Stephen shares his story of grit and determination of how he battles multiple sclerosis and his journey to becoming a three time IRONMAN.
Kevin Culliney
Kevin Culliney advocates for cancer awareness and seeking out second opinions and alternatives. He shares his remarkable story of survival, from diagnosis with stage IV cancer.
Tabitha Holman
Tabitha shares her experience with metastatic breast cancer and her advocacy to reform the current standards of care for breast cancer in Canada.
Eric Duplain
Eric Duplain defines generosity, kindness and selflessness, and possesses the sheer determination and talent to master whatever he sets his mind to.
Capable Dads Podcast: Daniel Hight
More Than Our Story founder Daniel Hight talks on the Capable Dads Podcast about his journey battling his health challenges, recovering, and parenting.
Nicholas Umali
Nicholas shares his story of persevering through stage 4 cancer and how he views his diagnosis as a blessing that's given him a new perspective on life.
Together For Sharon Interview
Our founder Daniel Hight is interviewed by Dr. George Ackerman for Together For Sharon on how he navigates life with his cancer diagnosis.
Ryan Grant Little
Ryan Grant Little shares his story from serial entrepreneur to angel investor and food tech ambassador. He also talks about his ongoing charitable and humanitarian efforts.
Needs Improvement Podcast: Daniel Hight
Our founder Daniel Hight joins Nicholas Whitaker on his Needs Improvement podcast to share his thoughts on the impact of physical health on mental wellbeing.
Michelle de Clair
Michelle juggles many roles with pride: mother, wife, volunteer, her career; yet she maintains a humble, quiet resiliency, as a daily reminder of the dangers of COVID-19.
Greg Robertson
Greg Robertson shares about his enthusiasm for triathlon, his ambassadorship for the Somersault race series and his goals for 2023 and beyond.
Carol Schulte
Carol shares how her struggles with mental health led to her founding The Brave Initiative and become the bravest version of herself.
Mikaela Barnes
Mikaela shares her journey with metastatic adenocarcinoma, her life-changing surgeries, ongoing treatments, and her refusal to let it define what she's capable of.
Megan Eckert
Megan shares her transformation from a hesitant runner to the epitome of physical and mental grit, shattering world records along the way.
Dr. Caesar Lim
Dr. Caesar Lim talks about his podcast The Capable Dads, where he and his co-hosts discuss topics related to fatherhood in an open and honest way.
Embracing You Podcast: Daniel Hight
Our founder Daniel Hight joins Eric Pothen on his Embracing You podcast to share his story about his renewed fitness journey and his perception of his body.
Simon Guérard
Simon Guérard shares his love for ultrarunning, the inspiration behind his YouTube Channel, and where he hopes to see the sport’s future.
Mark Black
Mark Black shares his remarkable story of resilience, becoming the first person in history to run a marathon with someone else's heart and lungs.
Stephen LaSalle
Stephen LaSalle is a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and a para-triathlete, proving that anything is possible.
Ruthie Sloan
Ruthie shares her story of courage and determination as she balances motherhood, trail running, and getting diagnosed with cancer during COVID.
Brandon Throop
Brandon shares his story, from his diagnosis with non-Hodgkin lymphoma to his aggressive treatment and current remission from the disease. He also talks about his fundraising.
John Amanam
John Amanam shares his inspiration for founding Immortal Cosmetic Art Ltd., Africa's leading producer of hyper-realistic prostheses.
Dr. George Ackerman
Dr. George Ackerman advocates for increased awareness of Parkinson's disease in memory of his late mother who passed from this terrible affliction.
Ryan Stark
Ryan shares his love of being creative, debunks some of the myths surrounding diabetes, and about what it's like living with this condition.
Nicholas Whitaker
After his layoff, Nicholas Whitaker co-founded the Changing Work Collective, become a life and career coach and devoted himself to improving workplaces, leaders and work culture.