The competition was fierce at the Séminaire de Sherbrooke gymnasium this weekend: the best wheelchair basketball athletes in the province were in action.
The first Wheelchair Basketball Open brought together the five teams from the AAA division, the highest caliber in Quebec. Players from Division A also had the opportunity to compete against each other.
This is the first year that Sherbrooke has a AAA division team. It’s fun to be able to compete at the end of the week
rejoices Élodie Tessier, player for Basketball Sherbrooke. She competed in the 2020 Paralympic Games in this discipline.
Jonathan Vernette has been playing wheelchair basketball since 2002.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Cédric Bérubé
In Quebec, wheelchair basketball is open to everyone, explains Paralympian Jonathan Vernette. Here, there are several players who are brothers, cousins and friends of people with disabilities, who started playing basketball at one point and then loved it and continued playing.
Charles Fortin came to encourage his wife.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Cédric Bérubé
This is the case of Charles Fortin: his partner, Sandrine Bérubé, is a Paralympic athlete who participates in the competition.
Usually, it is people with disabilities who come into our world
recognizes this man who plays in the AA division of this parasport. It is [bien] for people who do not have disabilities to reverse the roles. We are the ones trying to fit into their world.
Experienced referee Jonathan Boily enjoys directing these matches. If the competition is fierce, it is often done with the greatest respect, he believes. There’s never any complaining, or almost none, while standing up, you have to manage the parents, the coachs and the players. However, it is the same sport.
Jonathan Boily has been refereeing wheelchair basketball games for eight years and standing basketball games for 25 years.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Samuel Ranger
The provincial wheelchair basketball finals will take place April 10-12 at Bishop’s University.
