Marissa Papaconstantinou

2025 HHF OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT UNDER 40 AWAR

Marissa Papaconstantinou is a three-time Paralympian, Paralympic medalist, two-time World medalist and Canadian Record holder in the sport of track and field. Being born without a right foot, her differences never stopped her from what she wanted to achieve in life. At just 16 years old she made her first Paralympic team, and won a bronze medal by her second appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic games in the women’s T64 100m.

Through a lot of success, failure and experiences within the high-performance sport landscape, Marissa has learned many lessons and tools that have gotten her to where she is today. She is an avid role model and trailblazer for the disability community being the first female Canadian para-athlete to be signed and sponsored by Nike. Along with working and representing many other amazing brands like Krinos Canada, össur, Toyota, Petro Canada, Air Canada, Canadian Tire and more. Marissa leans in on the importance of giving back to community and philanthropy. She is an ambassador for many organizations starting with Holland Bloorview helping over the years raise funds for the hospital and participating in campaigns to help break down stigmas and barriers for children with disabilities. Marissa has also been part of campaigns for Kids Help Phone speaking out about mental health in sport and raising awareness for SHN and the lack of resources allocated to Scarborough hospitals, being a proud Scarborough native herself.

Marissa is a graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University’s Sport Media Program, having aspirations of being an on-air broadcaster in her future career. She hopes to continue to grow para sport through influence in the media and help demonstrate that people with disabilities can achieve remarkable goals in pursuit of excellence. Through her Keynote “Finding Tenths” Marissa shares with others her life experience and how she has adopted habits, practices and lessons that have gotten her to where she is today. She teaches others that with resilience and perseverance you can achieve anything you set your mind to regardless of your difference or struggle.

Marissa has aspirations of competing in LA 2028 with gold medal goals at her 4th Paralympic games. Overall, aside from hoping to win more medals at future world championships and Paralympic games, Marissa’s biggest goal when she leaves the sport of track and field is to leave it better and more prosperous for the next generation than she found it.