Frank Mazza
A native of Peterborough, Ontario, Frank Mazza was born with Cerebral Palsy. Many people affected by CP can walk but others, like Frank, need to use a wheelchair. In the early 1980s Frank started wheelchair racing. Frank’s C.P. impacted both of his legs and his right arm. He used his left arm only to propel his wheelchair, while always competing against 2 arm wheelers. He competed in the Eastern Ontario and Ontario C.P. games winning most of the events he participated in. His success earned him greater opportunities. Team Canada designed a two-year training program for Frank, and he was able to acquire a racing wheelchair. Frank’s goal was to compete at the 1984 Olympics for the Physically Disabled, which were called the “International Games for the Disabled” equivalent to today’s Paralympics. Frank surpassed this goal. At the 1984 Ontario Provincial Games, Frank won the 60-metre sprint, the 100-metre sprint and the 400-metre sprint. That same year, he was a gold medal winner for Canada in the 4 X 100 metre relay at the International Games for the Disabled at Long Island New York. In 1986, Frank took part in the International Cerebral Palsy Games in Gits, Belgium, where he won gold in the 4 X 100 metre relay, silver in the 400-metre sprint and bronze in the 100-metre sprint. He held national and provincial records in many events for several years. Unfortunately, Frank’s racing career was cut short by a cancer diagnosis in 1986. Although he beat the disease, he was unable to compete again. Frank Mazza was inducted into the Ontario Cerebral Palsy Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, the Cobourg & District Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and was the recipient of the Rotary Club of Toronto Special Achievement Award for International Competition for Disabled in 1985. He received certificates of achievement from the Province of Ontario and City of Peterborough. “Fast” Frank Mazza is a Gold Medal Olympian and a Gold, Silver and Bronze Paralympic World Games medalist. He started racing in 1982 and represented Canada internationally from 1983 through 1986.
Year Inducted:
2025
Status:
Active
A native of Peterborough, Ontario, Frank Mazza was born with Cerebral Palsy. Many people affected by CP can walk but others, like Frank, need to use a wheelchair. In the early 1980s Frank started wheelchair racing. Frank’s C.P. impacted both of his legs and his right arm. He used his left arm only to propel his wheelchair, while always competing against 2 arm wheelers. He competed in the Eastern Ontario and Ontario C.P. games winning most of the events he participated in. His success earned him greater opportunities. Team Canada designed a two-year training program for Frank, and he was able to acquire a racing wheelchair. Frank’s goal was to compete at the 1984 Olympics for the Physically Disabled, which were called the “International Games for the Disabled” equivalent to today’s Paralympics. Frank surpassed this goal. At the 1984 Ontario Provincial Games, Frank won the 60-metre sprint, the 100-metre sprint and the 400-metre sprint. That same year, he was a gold medal winner for Canada in the 4 X 100 metre relay at the International Games for the Disabled at Long Island New York. In 1986, Frank took part in the International Cerebral Palsy Games in Gits, Belgium, where he won gold in the 4 X 100 metre relay, silver in the 400-metre sprint and bronze in the 100-metre sprint. He held national and provincial records in many events for several years. Unfortunately, Frank’s racing career was cut short by a cancer diagnosis in 1986. Although he beat the disease, he was unable to compete again. Frank Mazza was inducted into the Ontario Cerebral Palsy Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, the Cobourg & District Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and was the recipient of the Rotary Club of Toronto Special Achievement Award for International Competition for Disabled in 1985. He received certificates of achievement from the Province of Ontario and City of Peterborough. “Fast” Frank Mazza is a Gold Medal Olympian and a Gold, Silver and Bronze Paralympic World Games medalist. He started racing in 1982 and represented Canada internationally from 1983 through 1986.