Craig MacFarlane
| Craig MacFarlane | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 16, 1962 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada |
| 💼 Occupation | Inspirational Speaker |
| 📆 Years active | 1984–present |
| 🌐 Website | https://www.findyourflame.com |
Craig MacFarlane is a totally blind world champion athlete, author, recording artist and Inspirational keynote speaker from Canada. He won more than 100 gold medals, numerous national championships and a world championship during his athletic career before retiring from athletics in his early twenties to pursue his business and speaking career. He found success at wrestling at age 8 after an accident blinded him at 2 1/2.[1]
Early life[edit]
MacFarlane was born on June 16th, 1962 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in Desbarats, Ontario, a small town of only 400 people, where he lost his sight in a tragic accident when he was only 2 years old.[2]
MacFarlane left Desbarats when he was 6 years old to attend the Ontario School for the Blind in Brantford, Ontario where he began his athletic career at the tender age of 7.
He grew up with his parents, Joyce and Earl MacFarlane, and his older brother Ian, on the family farm in Desbarats, Ontario. Desbarats was a very small town of only 400 people in 1962 and was somewhat isolated in Northern Ontario. This contributed greatly to Craig's story as there were virtually no medical or emergency services available to residents of Desbarats without making the long trip to Sault Ste. Marie, the nearest town of any size in the region.
In 1964, while playing with his brother and their friends, in his father's workshop / garage, MacFarlane suffered a serious injury. A welder's striker was accidently flung by one of the boys and struck Craig directly in his left eye, causing irreversible damage. Despite his mother's frantic efforts to rush Craig to the hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, there was no eye specialist available by the time they finally arrived.
As a result, not only did Craig lose total sight in his injured eye, but as a result of the delay, Craig also lost total sight in his remaining eye due to a condition called Sympathetic Ophthalmia[3], a consequence that could have been avoided if an ophthalmic surgeon had been available when Craig and his mother arrived at the hospital.
MacFarlane's recovery took place at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, over 500 miles away from home. Once he was sufficiently recovered, Craig and his mother returned to the family farm where, as times being what they were, there were no support services such as public health nurses or social workers or community support centers, Craig's parents found themselves faced with the challenge of raising a totally blind child.
Fortuitously, Craig's mother made a decision, for which she has since been famously quoted as saying numerous times, “We didn’t know how to raise a blind kid, so we just raised a kid.” She, and Craig's father, included Craig in all family activities, without special treatment and circumstance, and, according to Craig, provided him with the best possible foundation to thrive in the sighted world despite having completely lost his sight at such an early age.[4]
School and Athletics[edit]
In 1968, MacFarlane was, by law, required to attend The Ontario School for the Blind, later to be renamed The W. Ross MacDonald School for the Blind, in Brantford, Ontario, again over 500 miles from his home. Because of the sheer distance involved, this meant that while being only 6 years old, Craig would be separated from his family, only returning home for Christmas, Easter and summer vacation.
Having been raised in the sighted world, without special treatment, Craig didn't understand why he had to be banished to such an institution, and he longed to return home, to the sighted world, and continue his happy life alongside his family and friends.
He got his opportunity the following year, 1969, when, as a second-grade student, his teachers and coaches selected him to join the school wrestling program. Craig's success as a wrestler came quickly, winning gold in his first ever tournament. More importantly to Craig, he won his first gold medal in a tournament wrestling against sighted opposition. The fact that he could compete and win against sighted competition gave Craig the inspiration to believe that if he kept winning, he would be proving he belonged back in the sighted world with his mother and father.
That was the beginning of Craig's outstanding athletic career that ultimately led to him becoming recognized as "The World’s Most Celebrated Totally Blind Athlete".[5]
Craig continued to win in local tournaments and went on to win multiple National Blind Wrestling Championships. He also became a successful track and field athlete winning gold at numerous blind national championships multiple times in the 60-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter sprints, as well as in Javelin and Discus.
It took eight years, but Craig finally did earn the right to return home, where he started high school at Central Algoma Secondary School back in his hometown. Craig had 2 wonderful, successful years at Central Algoma before tragedy struck his family once again. In 1978, the family barn caught fire and burned to ground. Everything was lost, including Craig's precious horse, Rebel, who he was unable to save.
Craig returned to W. Ross Macdonald to complete his Junior and Senior High School years and to further his athletic training before proceeding on to North Park Collegiate in Brantford, Ontario to complete his grade 13, which was still a requirement in Ontario in 1981.[1]
Early Adult Years[edit]
After graduating high school, MacFarlane began reaching out and networking with contacts he had made during his athletic pursuits and decided to organize the Craig MacFarlane Invitational Charity Tennis Tournament in Sault Ste. Marie. The tournament was a big success, but more importantly, was where Craig first became acquainted with the legendary NHL hockey star, Gordie Howe. Gordie, and his wife Colleen, were very impressed with Craig. The Howe's ultimately decided to sponsor Craig and invited him to live with them in Glastonbury, Connecticut where Gordie secured Craig a job in the public relations and marketing department with the Hartford Whalers of the NHL, with Gordie who had just retired from playing with professional hockey at the age of 52.
It was Howe who challenged MacFarlane to continue competing until he achieved the milestone of winning 100 Gold medals, which he did in 1983 when he won the 400 meter sprint at the New Jersey Invitational Track and Field Tournament.
It was also during his time with the Howe that Craig began skiing, both on snow and water.
MacFarlane began snow skiing in late 1982 during a trip to Smuggler's Notch. It was during that trip that Craig decided to pursue downhill snow skiing seriously and before long was training to compete in the 1983 United States Blind National Downhill Snow Skiing Championship, where he won the gold medal, clocking a speed in excess of 50 miles per hour in his final run.
Later that same year, MacFarlane competed in the United States Blind National Water-Skiing Championships at Cypress Gardens in Florida. Once again, Craig won the gold medal, but more impressively, he was also offered a contract to become a member of the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Jumping show team.
This made Craig MacFarlane the first ever totally blind person to be employed as a professional athlete.
Unfortunately, MacFarlane suffered a serious accident that resulted in such extensive injuries and such a lengthy recovery that he was not at 100% health for the World Blind Water-Skiing Championships in 1984 and suffered a disappointing finish.
Not willing to end his athletic career on such a low note, MacFarlane returned to compete once again in the 1984 United States Blind National Water-Skiing Championships, where he once again won gold. He then proceeded to the 1985 World Blind Water-Skiing Championships in the fjords above Oslo, Norway, where did become world champion.
Business Life[edit]
MacFarlane's business and speaking career began in earnest when he went to work for the Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League. Craig’ work for the Whalers involved many public speaking opportunities, appearing on behalf of the team and this notoriety lead to many independent speaking opportunities as well.[6][7]
MacFarlane first appeared on the national stage when he was asked by President Ronald Reagan to speak at the 1984 Republican National Convention at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. Craig also appeared at the 1988 Republican National Convention at the Superdome in New Orleans and was invited back a 3rd time, by then President George H.W. Bush to speak at the Republican National Convention at the Astrodomein Houston, Texas in 1992. It was during that time that Craig developed a close personal friendship with President Bush that lasted until the President's death in November 2018. Craig often tells the story about how President Bush crashed his 23rd birthday party and President Bush also shares a personal message on Craig's introductory video. President bush even wrote the foreword to Craig MacFarlane's autobiography.[8]
In 1991, MacFarlane joined the investment firm of Edward Jones in the role of corporate goodwill ambassador where he remained employed until 2009 and is still a popular speaker at Edward Jones events until this day, where he frequently appears on a freelance basis.[9]
MacFarlane continues to be in demand as an inspirational keynote speaker and has frequently spoken to Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies and at many national conventions for large and influential organizations including Rotary International and Lions Clubs International.[10]
Two additional highlights that MacFarlane considers particularly special are being asked by President Reagan to carry the Olympic torch through Washington, D.C. during the torches trip to the Los Angeles Olympics and being invited to the Vatican to meet with Pope Benedict XVI.[11]
In addition to his successful speaking career, MacFarlane is also the founder of the 2020 InnerVision Foundation, through which Craig has actively worked to raise graduation rates in America's high schools.[12][13]
Author[edit]
Craig MacFarlane is the author of two books:[14] Craig MacFarlane Hasn’t Heard of You Either is Craig's autobiography published in 2013. The follow up, Find Your Flame Through Purpose, Passion and Sacrifice was published in 2019.
Family life[edit]
MacFarlane is a dedicated husband and father and proudly claims in every speech he gives that his wife Patti and his children Dalton, Derek, Ashley and Morgan are the reason why he stills works so hard.[15][16][17][18]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Anderson, Dave. "He's Blind To Nothing". The New York Times.
- ↑ Reason, Betsy (February 2, 2014). "Zionsville Author Is Blind To Mediocrity". IndyStar.
- ↑ "Sympathetic Ophthalmia". MSD Manual.
- ↑ "Craig MacFarlane - Inspiration. Leadership. Insight". cmpride.com.
- ↑ "'World's Most Celebrated Totally Blind Athlete' to appear in Delphi". Carroll County Comet. September 13, 2017.
- ↑ Andes, Jennifer (October 27, 1994). "That Others Might See". Daily Press.
- ↑ Kuhl, Sara (Dec 2, 2015). "Craig MacFarlane Speaks At Chamber Dinner". Times-Mail.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvlbK945GMQ
- ↑ Johnson, Stephannie (April 11, 2008). "Edward Jones Hosts Craig MacFarlane At Two Local Speaking Engagements".
- ↑ "Mingus Union hosts inspirational speaker Craig MacFarlane". The Verde Independent. February 9, 2020.
- ↑ Phillips, Allen (August 23, 2013). "Craig MacFarlane". Atlantic Speakers Bureau.
- ↑ Dominitz, Nathan (January 22, 2008). "Speaker Has "Inner Vision" For Success". Savannah Morning News.
- ↑ "Inspirational Speaker/ Craig MacFarlane". cottonwoodchamberaz.org.
- ↑ "Author Craig MacFarlane Talks About His Experience With Archway Publishing".
- ↑ "Craig's Family". cmpride.com.
- ↑ Niro, Rita A. (September 14, 1995). "Disabled Speaker Preaches Gospel of Enthusiasm". Hartford Courant.
- ↑ "Blind Athlete And Inspirational Speaker - Craig MacFarlane". IndyStar. January 31, 2014.
- ↑ MacFarlane, Craig (1997). Inner Vision: The Story of the World's Greatest Blind Athlete. Addax Publishing Group. ISBN 9781886110304. Search this book on
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