Windspeaker confidential: Richard Peter

Page 20

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?

Richard Peter: I guess honesty.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?

R.P.: Oh, that differs each day. I guess impatient people. So wherever that happens, whether it be driving or just in a line-up somewhere.

W: When are you at your happiest?

R.P.: I don't know. I guess when everybody else around me is happy also. So whenever I'm around a lot of people, all my friends and family and they're having a good time, then that's when I'm having a good time.

W: What one word best describes you when you are at your worst?

R.P.: I hear I get grumpy.

W: What one person do you most admire and why?

R.P.: I guess that would be my mother. She's taught me a lot of things that I still use in life now. Actually, to go back to the one question earlier, about impatient people, she's always taught me to be patient and also very helpful and giving ... I always definitely try to get out there and help as many people as I can. So she really just told me to be very giving and kind. So most times I am.

W: What is the most difficult thing you've ever had to do?

R.P.: I guess I would say learn to public speak. I'm a very quiet person most times, and when somebody phoned and asked me to come out and talk about wheelchair sports for the first time at an [annual general meeting], I couldn't even look up. I was just sitting there, reading from the paper. So it was quite hard for me to learn how to public speak and talk in front of a lot of people.

W: What is your greatest accomplishment?

R.P.: Well, there are definitely different levels, like I could have a good accomplishment for wheelchair sports, and I could have a personal accomplishment. I guess right now the two big ones that come to mind in those areas are: one for basketball and sports is, you know, of course, winning the gold medal at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000 for the men's team. So that was really good for us, for wheelchair basketball. And then the other one was, I guess, when I just quit drinking a year-and-a-half ago. So that was a big accomplishment for me personally, and a move forward. I know I'm looking to start a family, so that's definitely a big accomplishment for me to make my first step toward that.

W: What one goal remains out of reach?

R.P.: Winning the lottery? Let's see. I don't know. I am very happy where I am right now. I guess being one of the top basketball players was one of my goals and I've reached that. Of course, you can always get better and continue it. I guess starting a family is one of the main goals that I want to start right now, and hopefully be a good parent. So that'll be one of my next goals, I guess.

W: If you couldn't do what you're doing today, what would you be doing?

R.P.: I'd probably be playing a different sport and probably [be] a construction worker. I'm very good with math and my dad was a carpenter also, so I'd probably be into carpentry.

W: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?

R.P.: I don't know. I guess basketball-wise ... I was always taught to challenge myself ... not accepting, I guess, where my level is and that I can always achieve another level above that. So to keep on working harder and the benefits will come at the end. And also just to reiterate the stuff with my mom. She had more or less done the same thing too. Growing up as a kid, she always kicked me out the door to go out and play sports or go out and do what I enjoy. So she always did the same, sort of in a different manner and just told me to get out there and do the things that I enjoy ... sit back and have a good time, I guess. I've never really been one to get too stressed out. I've been relaxed and calm with most things. So I guess she ingrained that in my mind also.

W: Did you take it?

R.P.: I don't know if it was an actual comment that was told to me, but things that I was taught. So yes, I've always pushed myself quite hrd at times and try to help out whenever I can, as much as possible.

W: How do you hope to be remembered?

R.P.: I think just as an easy-going and fun-loving kind of a guy. You know, that's always been a very hard question for myself to talk about. I guess it is with anybody, talk about their personal things. I do know that I'm seen as a very hard-working and easy-going guy in the same sentence. I will definitely put yourself before myself, my needs. So I'll definitely try to help you out as much as I can. I guess that's about it.