Craig McFarlane
You will be inspired when you read what Craig
McFarlane, blind since two, told me when I asked him his philosophy
of life. "Dick, you have to always wake up in the morning and put
your game face on, put a smile on your face, don’t worry about the
pressure or the challenges ahead of you. Don’t wait for someone to
inspire you to raise the bar. Light that self-lit flame that all of
us have inside. At the end of the day you will be happier when you
balance between work, pleasure, and health... I have always tried to
strive for that."
Born in Desbarats, a small town near North Bay, Ontario, a freak
accident blinded him permanently and he was raised at the school for the
blind in Brantford, Ontario, where he excelled in sports.
Over the years he has competed and won 103 Gold medals in every
sport available to blind athletes. Often, he would compete - and win -
against sighted athletes as well.
He caught the attention of Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe who invited Craig
to come live with him in Detroit. Soon Craig was connecting with
other world-class athletes in other major sports. He continued to
compete and excel in many sports, including sighted sports, such as
basketball.
He skied downhill at a recorded 50 miles per hour. He took up water
skiing and became so proficient that he was hired to perform daily
with the world-famous Cypress Gardens Water Ski Spectacular in
Miami, Florida. Four shows a day, seven days a week regardless of
weather.
Craig now earns substantial fees traveling world wide as a most
sought after motivational speaker, which is how I met first met him.
His amazing life is captured in a book titled "Inner Vision".
Craig is so well respected that he has spoken at two U.S. Republican
Conventions. Quite an achievement for a blind kid from Desbarats,
Ontario, eh? He’s another Canadian Achiever
Read more about Craig McFarlane at
www.canadianachievers.com
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