Neighbour, Darryl

Year Inducted / Année Intronisé:

2016

Province / Province:

British Columbia

Category / Catégorie:

Curler

Biography / Biographie:

Darryl Neighbour of Richmond, B.C., proved last spring that age is no barrier in the pursuit of athletic excellence.

At the age of 66 (he turned 67 last July), Neighbour added to what had already been a brilliant career by winning his third Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship. He was the vice-skip for Team B.C., skipped by Gerry Austgarden.

That title, combined with his stellar success on the world stage with Team Canada, earned him the call from Curling Canada to join the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.

“It was a total surprise, and then a shock,” said Neighbour. “It was the same way I felt when we won the gold medal in 2010 (at the Vancouver Paralympics). Ironically, I was curling a league game at the Olympic venue when I got the call, so it was only fitting.”

Neighbour and Forrest were teammates on the 2010 Paralympic gold-medal team, as well as on the 2009 and 2011 world championship Canadian teams.

Neighbour also represented Canada proudly at the 2008 and 2012 World Wheelchair Curling Championships.