Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor is on a fast track to Paris Paralympics

Jacob Wassermann's meteoric rise in the sport of Para rowing has put him on a fast track to the Paralympics in Paris this summer, something the 24-year-old could never have imagined even just a year ago when he first started getting serious about the sport.

The goal initially was to get to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles — Wassermann wanted to set a realistic expectation, considering he was fairly new to the world of Para rowing. He admits those first few times of the water were a little shaky.

What wasn't factored into that calculation was his unwavering commitment to being the best he can be at any sport he competes in, his resilience and desire to never quit.

Wassermann is one of 13 people who survived the horrific Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Saturday will mark six years since the tragedy that left 16 dead.

Rowing has come naturally to Wassermann, who is a gifted athlete in every sense. As he powers his way across the water he says he feels free.

"One of my old teammates used to say you leave your wheelchair at the dock and leave your disability at the dock. And it's a very freeing experience to be out there," he told CBC Sports. "I'm out there with the other high-performance athletes and everybody's working hard. I just get to go out there, perform and be an athlete, do my thing."

For Wassermann, who was the Broncos' No. 1 goaltender, sport has been a constant. The thrill of competition, striving for athletic excellence, is in his DNA. And his disability wasn't going to change that. Wassermann has remained steadfast in his desire to continue a life filled with sport, even though it might not be taking shape the way he imagined.

"I've been an athlete my whole life. I've