Sandy Lecour, a celebrated Paralympic gold medallist, has officially launched her debut music album in the mountain town of Canmore, Alberta. The album, titled Listen T'me, features 10 original songs penned by Lecour herself, marking a significant personal achievement that intertwines her athletic background with her artistic expression.
From the Podium to the Recording Studio
Now 68 years old, Sandy Lecour began to lose her eyesight in grade school due to Stargardt's disease. Despite this challenge, she pursued cross-country skiing from a young age, eventually reaching the pinnacle of her sport by winning a gold medal at the Paralympic Games. Her journey into music, however, began much later in life. Lecour did not start writing her own songs until she was 60, after attending a guitar workshop that included a songwriting component.
"It's nothing I dreamed of, it's nothing I thought of," Lecour admits. "I sat in on it, and when I came out, I just couldn't seem to stop songwriting. When I see something, when I meet somebody, when I hear of a situation, I love to write. It's my way of interpreting the world."
A Touching Tribute to a Fearless Centenarian
The album's poignant final track, "The Lion That Did Not Roar," is a powerful homage to Charlie Wirth, a blind cross-country skier from New Jersey whom Lecour met at various sporting events. The song incorporates a snippet of a real interview Wirth gave after a race at the Ridderrennet in Norway, an annual competition for visually and mobility-impaired athletes. In the interview, the then-102-year-old Wirth casually mentions his age and suggests it might be his final race.
Charlie Wirth passed away in 2024 at the remarkable age of 103, and Lecour attended his memorial service via Zoom. She remembers him as a fearless and inspiring individual with a quiet charm. "He was totally blind, but he kept on trucking," she says. "The weather was awful, and he just motored through it... He was an amazing character."
The Music of 'Listen T'me'
Drawing from her experience performing jazz standards and singing in choirs, Lecour's album presents a gentle jazz-folk sound. The songs cover a range of emotions and themes, many carrying a seize-the-day message reflective of her own life philosophy. The tracklist includes the playful "Sandy's Swing" and "Take Me To New York," as well as the mournful ballad "Gentle Rain," which is based on a poem written by her brother, Chris, about the death of a friend.
The official album launch for Listen T'me was held on Thursday, November 12, 2025, in Canmore, celebrating a new chapter for an athlete who continues to redefine what is possible.
