Eric Furtado-Rodrigues
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Eric Furtado-Rodrigues

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Eric Rodrigues-Furtado became a quadriplegic following a snowboarding accident in 2009. While recovering at a rehabilitation center in Ontario, he was introduced to wheelchair rugby through watching the...

  • Birth DateMay 7, 1979
  • HometownMississauga, ON
  • ClubToronto Titans
  • Classification0.5
  • Member Since2017
Eric Furtado-Rodrigues

Biography

Eric Rodrigues-Furtado became a quadriplegic following a snowboarding accident in 2009. While recovering at a rehabilitation center in Ontario, he was introduced to wheelchair rugby through watching the Murderball documentary. The film caught his eye and on instinct, Eric decided to seek out the Ontario Para Network in pursuit of the sport.

At first, wheelchair rugby was an opportunity for Eric to once again, play a contact team sport. However, as he became more and more engaged in the sport, he had aspirations of one day representing Canada on the international stage. Eric, not one to shy away from a challenge, took it on and managed to become a member of the National Team Program in 2017. From there, he would go on to dawn the maple leaf and represent Canada at several major competitions in 2018, including the Canada Cup and the World Championships. He recently made his Paralympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics where he averaged 20 minutes per game, the most among first-time Paralympians on Team Canada.

Outside of sport, “E-Rod” enjoys photography, travel, music and cheering on his local Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Career Highlights

  • Silver medalist at the 2023 Santiago Parapan American Games
  • Silver medalist at the 2023 International Wheelchair Rugby Cup
  • Silver medalist at 2022 Canada Cup
  • Silver medalist at the 2022 WWR Americas Championship
  • 5th Place at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games
  • Silver medalist at the 2019 Lima Parapan Am Games
  • Finished in 6th place at the GIO 2018 IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championship
  • Finished in 4th place at the 2018 Canada Cup
  • 2017 Ontario Provincial Athlete of the Year – Male, Para
  • Silver medalist at the 2017 Americas Championship

Media Gallery

CAN 48
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AUS 49
2024 WWR Paralympic Qualification Tournament Final
CAN 58
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DEU 41
2024 WWR Paralympic Qualification Tournament Semi-Finals