Hometown: Oakville, ON
Twitter: @gwestlake12

Greg Westlake may have been born with a congenital abnormality that resulted in the loss of his legs, but he says that didn't really impact his life at all. The real life-changing factor? Hockey.

"I was born into a family that was hockey nuts. I learned to skate when I was three," explains Greg. "I played road hockey, roller hockey, ice hockey. It was kind of a staple of my childhood." When his mom suggested he try sledge hockey (he later made a video with his sponsor, P&G, to thank her for it), he had to wrap his head around playing the game he loved in a less traditional way.

"I had to grow up a little bit when I was 17 years old and started meeting guys on the team who had beaten cancer and other pretty wild things. It gives you a great perspective."

Since then, he's been to two Paralympic Games and won gold in Torino. For him, there's nothing like it. "The whole reason you go is because you want to say that, at one point in your life, you were the best in the world at something."

When he goes to Sochi, he hopes to prove it again. "The only thing I want is a gold medal. Nothing else will suffice."

Learn more about the other amazing athletes on Team Canada.
                                               

This story was originally titled "The Hockey Fanatic" in the February 2014 issue.             Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!