Brianna Hennessy

Brianna Hennessy, who grew up and lives in Nepean, made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games as the first Canadian to ever medal in Para canoe, winning silver in the Women’s VL2 200m and serving as Canada’s co-flag bearer at the closing ceremony. She followed that with gold in Para canoe and bronze in Para kayak at the 2025 World Cup.

Hennessy was also a member of Canada’s first female wheelchair rugby team that placed third at a World Cup in France in 2023.

A multi-time national champion in both canoe and kayak, Hennessy is a former Ontario boxing champion, Ontario Winter Games ice hockey champion, Canadian ball hockey champion, and Canadian rugby champion with Team Ontario. Her athletic journey took a new turn in 2014, when she was diagnosed as a tetraplegic after being struck by a speeding taxi.