Nathan Riech

Nathan "Nate" Riech (born 5 February 1995) is a Canadian Paralympic athlete who competes in middle-distance running events in international level events. He has a dual citizenship with Canada and the United States.[1]

Nathan Riech
Personal information
Nickname(s)Dogg, GrayWolf
Born (1995-02-05) 5 February 1995
Fresno, California, U.S.
Height6' 1"
Sport
Country Canada
SportParalympic athletics
DisabilityDisability
Disability classT38
Event(s)1500 metres
ClubVic City Elite
Coached byHeather Hennigar
Mike Van Tighem
Medal record
Paralympic athletics
Representing  Canada
World Championships
2019 DubaiMen's 1500m T38
Parapan American Games
2019 LimaMen's 1500m T38

Personal life

Riech was born in a sporting family: his father Todd Riech competed for United States at the 1996 Summer Olympics in the men's javelin throw, his mother Ardin Tucker was a Canadian pole vaulter who competed in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. His grandfather, Jim Harrison, played in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins. Riech's cousin Georganne Moline competed in the 400 metre hurdles in the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics while his stepmother Brittany Borman also competed in the same Olympics in the women's javelin throw.[2][3]

Riech's disability occurred after a freak accident aged ten while he was playing golf with friends, a golf ball hit Riech in the back of the head which caused him to have a brain injury which affected the right side of his body.[4]

Sporting career

Riech began running at ten years old in Chandler, Arizona. He began competing internationally in 2018 in the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Berlin where he broke the 800 metres and 1500 metres T38 world records, one year later, he broke then 1500 metre world record again. He won his first medal in the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima.[5][6]

References
  1. "Nathan Riech - Canadian Paralympic Committee". Canadian Paralympic Committee. 23 April 2020.
  2. "Nate Riech - International Paralympic Committee". International Paralympic Committee. 23 April 2020.
  3. "Island runners Riech, Stanley on their mark for Paralympic battle in Tokyo". Times Colonist. 18 November 2019.
  4. "Canada has new Paralympic middle-distance running star in Nate Riech". National Post. 6 July 2018.
  5. "Canada's Riech wins gold, Stewart silver at final day of para athletic worlds". cbc.ca. 15 November 2019.
  6. "Athlete of the Month - July 2019". Canadian Sport Institute. 23 April 2020.
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