Jacob Wassermann, survivor of the Humboldt bus crash, turns tragedy into triumph with his Paralympics debut

Six years after the tragic accident that shocked and mourned the country, one of the survivors of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash is giving Canadians a reason to smile.

Jacob Wassermann was paralyzed from the waist down in the 2018 accident that killed 16 people and injured 13. He started para-rowing less than two years ago. Now the former junior hockey goalie is representing Canada at the Paralympics in Paris.

And what a journey it was.

Jacob Wasserman, 24, makes Paralympics debut

Wassermann originally planned to compete in the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, but he was able to accelerate his plans after winning an unexpected silver medal at the 2024 World Rowing Americas Paralympic Rowing Regatta in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in March, securing him a spot in Paris.

On Friday, Wassermann made his inspirational Paralympic debut with an incredible performance in the water, finishing in the men's PR1 singles with a time of 11:22.35 as the youngest rower in the field.

Although the 24-year-old did not qualify directly for the final and only finished sixth in his heat, his hopes of a medal remain alive as he will compete in the repechage on Saturday and have a chance to advance.

Before boarding the flight to Paris, the Regina, Sask., native was all smiles and excited about the chance to make an impression on one of the world's biggest sporting stages.

“The fact that I've made it this far and can go out there is a pretty big accomplishment for me,” he told the CBC after an early morning rowing session earlier this month.

Wasserman: “I like to compete”

Wassermann, who played a few games with the WHL's Regina Pats before joining the SJHL's Humboldt Broncos, his hometown team, for the 2017-18 season, told the Regina Leader-Post exactly what drew him to rowing – a sport that is notoriously demanding both physically and mentally.

“I like competing,” Wassermann said earlier this month. “I also like how hard the training is. You have to be a little crazy to be a rower and enjoy the pain that comes with it.”

“That comes from training and racing. It's also quite a thrill to be out there on the water and do things I didn't do before my injury.”

Since Wassermann has always been an athlete, the thought of quitting sports after his accident never occurred to him.

“I still wanted to try to stay in hockey and stay in this world as long as possible,” Wassermann told the CBC. “Ever since I could really walk, I had a mini-stick in my hand or [was] kick a soccer ball around.”

Wasserman competes at the highest level two years after starting rowing

A friend then suggested he try rowing, and that's what lit Wassermann's fire. Less than two years ago, he attended a Saskatoon Rowing Club meeting hoping to fall in love with a new athletic endeavor. He said it was one of the most strenuous things he'd ever done – but he enjoyed it and realized it might be just the sport for him.

“So I went to give [rowing] “I tried it and I'm well built for it,” Wassermann told the Leader-Post. “I'm really big. And I really enjoyed the people there and the training that came out of it.”

Wassermann, who currently lives and trains in Saskatoon, trains on the water on Wascana Lake in Regina twice a day, six days a week, under the guidance of John Wetzstein, head coach and technical director of the Saskatchewan Rowing Association.

“You always keep your eyes open for these talented athletes that come along. And it's really special when that happens,” Wetzstein said, via CBC. “To be able to work with someone like Jacob is really exciting.”

Wassermann's wife, family and friends traveled to Paris to cheer him on, along with some of his former teammates who have been close to him since the tragedy in 2018.

“Each of us is so much more than just the Humboldt Broncos,” Wassermann said. “I mean, that will be a part of us forever, and we're all very proud of that. But we're all so much more.”

The former goalkeeper also mentioned the support he received from the Canadians.

“I'm super grateful,” he said. “I've received so many congratulations and the words to go out there and give it as much gas as I can.”

Aquarius will compete for a place in the finals on Saturday at 4:10 a.m. EST.