Montreal Paralympian Search puts aspiring athletes to the test in Ahuntsic

Young athletes aspiring to compete in the Paralympics got to put their skills to the test in Ahuntsic Saturday.

The Paralympian Search, an event designed to test out what sport might best suit aspiring paralympians, took place at the Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard.

Young athletes, including those hoping to transfer into a new sport, went through several basic physical tests conducted by national coaches and experts.

Paralympic athletes like David Eng, captain of Team Canada's wheelchair basketball team, were also at the event to offer advice.

"Just go out there, leave all fear aside — there is no fear. Just focus on having fun and dream big," Eng said.

Team Canada hopefuls

Eng's advice is something 18-year-old Remo Analytis already embodied.

"I'm having the time of my life!" said a gleeful Analytis.

Though Analytis plays hard, he also works hard as a wheelchair basketball player, training up to five times a week.

For other aspiring paralympians, Analytis had his own advice — don't let people get you down.

"If somebody judges you, don't ever get down. Don't ever get depressed about it because they are not in your shoes and because they don't know what it means to be you," he said.

"They'll know what it means to be you when they're watching you on TV and you have the full stage, fans going crazy, and then they're going to say 'I never should have made fun of that kid,'" he added.

Raphëlle Tousignant hopes to be one of those paralympians on television, competing as a sledge hockey player with Team Canada in the 2018 Paralympics in South Korea.

Tousignant picked up the sport after bone cancer left her unable to play ringette.

For Tousignant, being at Saturday's event taught her one lesson on the road to achieving her Paralympic dreams.

"Being here is a life lesson, to not let a little scratch get you down and to continue to move forward," Tousignant said.

Analytis, Tousignant and other participants have a shot at being selected for development programs, and hopefully one day, end up on a Paralympic podium.