Team Canada

Personal Info: Resides: Fergus, ON Birthplace: Edmonton, AB Born: August 22, 1979 Height: 6'4" Occupation: Athlete / Student Twitter: @andersonpatrick

Athletic Info: Club Team: N/A Coach: Jerry Tonello National Team: 1997-2012 Began Wheelchair Basketball: 1990 Classification: 4.5

Biography:

Patrick Anderson is largely considered to be the best wheelchair basketball player in the world and one of the greatest to have ever played the game. His talents on and off the court have garnered him international fame as a great role model and fabulous ambassador of the sport. He is well known for his basketball flair and charismatic personality.

Anderson was born in Edmonton, AB and grew up in Fergus, ON. Like many Canadian kids, he enjoyed playing ice hockey and other sports. In 1989, at the age of 9, he was struck by a drunk driver and lost both of his legs below the knee. He discovered wheelchair basketball in 1990 and his natural athletic ability and tenacity quickly transferred over to the basketball court.

With Paralympic aspirations fuelling his competitive fire, Anderson worked his way up to the National Team in 1997. He also earned a wheelchair basketball scholarship to the University of Illinois.

Anderson wasted little time making a name for himself on the international stage. His exceptional talents, unmistakable style, and dangerous combination of height and speed were on full display as he led the Canadian Junior Men’s National Team to back-to-back World Championships in 1997 and 2001. He was named the most valuable player of both tournaments.

In 1998, Canada won bronze at the World Championships and Anderson was named to the first of many all-star teams as a member of the Canadian Sr. Men's National Team. He later realized his dream of playing the sport at the highest level and helped Canada win back-to-back Paralympic gold medals in 2000 and 2004, along with a silver medal in 2008. He also became a World Champion as Team Canada captured the gold medal in 2006.

Outside of the National Program, Anderson has competed in professional leagues overseas in Australia and Germany. In 2003, he was named the MVP of the Australian National Wheelchair Basketball League. His former club in Germany, RSV Lahn-Dill, also won three consecutive European Champions Cups from 2004-2006. He has also won numerous national championships and individual accolades in both Canada and the United States.

Anderson took a brief hiatus from wheelchair basketball following the 2008 Paralympic Games to pursue other interests, including his love for music. Music has always been a big part of his life and it’s a passion that he continues to explore to this day. He is currently working towards a general music degree at Hunter College in New York City.

In 2011, an invigorated Anderson returned to Team Canada set to push his game, his team and his sport to the next level. He once again led Canada to Paralympic gold at London 2012, where he led the tournament in scoring.

To learn more about Pat, in his own words, check out his personal blog at: patrickanderson.ca or follow him on Twitter: @andersonpatrick

Interesting Facts:

• He is an aspiring musician who has studied general music & jazz guitar
• He was named an honorary mayor of the Olympic & Paralympic Villages at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, BC

Awards / Highlights:

• Named Best Male Athlete of the Year at the 2013 Canadian Paralympic Committee Sport Awards
• Named Ontario Male Athlete of the Year With A Disability in 2013
• Received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013)
• Named finalist for the prestigious Laureus Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award
• Named 2003-2005, 2012 National Championships tournament MVP
• Named Wheelchair Basketball Canada Male Athlete of the Year in 2009 and 2013
• Named 2008 BC Wheelchair Basketball Society Male Athlete of the Year
• Named Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) Male Athlete of the Year in 2004, 2006 & 2012
• Named to the 2006 World Championships tournament all-star team
• Named to the 2006 National Championships tournament all-star team
• 2004 Canadian Sport Award for Male Team of the Year
• Back-to-back MVP awards at World Junior Wheelchair Basketball Championships (1997 & 2001)

Major International Competition:

Tournament				Other
# of Paralympic Games competed in: 4	3 ('00,'04,'12)	1 ('08)	0	-
# of World Championships competed in: 3	1 ('06)	0	2 ('98,'02)	-

Statistics:

Paralympic Games

Legend: GP = Games Played; Min = Minutes; M/G = Minutes per Game; M/A = Made / Attempted; OR = Offensive Rebounds; DR = Defensive Rebounds; TOT = Total; AS = Assists; TO = Turn Overs; ST = Steals; BS = Blocked Shots; PF = Personal Foul; FO = Foul On; PTS = Points; P/G = Points per Game

    

Competitive Experience: 

Career Notes:

2013: Named Wheelchair Basketball Canada Male Athlete of the Year... Named Ontario Male Athlete of the Year With A Disability...

2012: 1st place at Paralympic Games in London, England (Team Canada)... 1st place at National Championship with Team Ontario & named MVP in Richmond, BC (domestic)… 1st place at Continental Clash tournament in Worcester, England (Team Canada)… 2nd place at Papendal Tournament in Arnhem, Netherlands (Team Canada)... Named CWSA Male Athlete of the Year...

2011: 3rd place at Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico (Team Canada)... 3rd place at International Tournament of Champions in Charlotte, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at BT Paralympic Cup in Manchester, UK (Team Canada)…

2010: 1st place at CWBL Open Finals with the Douglas College Lions & named MVP in Coquitlam, BC (domestic)…

2009: 2nd at Americas Cup Qualifier in Richmond, BC (Team Canada)… Named Wheelchair Basketball Canada Male Athlete of the Year...

2008: 2nd place at Paralympic Games in Beijing, China (Team Canada)… 2nd place at North American Cup in Birmingham, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at Pre-Paralympic Test Series in Osnabrück, Germany (Team Canada)… 1st place at Good Luck Beijing Invitational Tournament in Beijing, China (Team Canada)… 1st place NWBA Division I National Championships with British Columbia Cable Cars & named MVP in Lexington, USA (domestic)… 1st place at CWBL Open Finals with the Douglas College Royals & named MVP in Regina, SK (domestic)…

2007: 2nd place at Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Team Canada)… 2nd place at NWBA Final Four Championship with the British Columbia Cable Cars & named MVP in Lexington, USA (domestic)… 2nd place at CWBL Open Finals with the Prince George Titans & named MVP in Quebec City, QC (domestic)…

2006: 1st place at World Championships & named All-Star in Amsterdam, Netherlands (Team Canada)… 1st place at Paralympic Cup in Manchester, UK (Team Canada)… 1st place at Osaka Cup in Osaka, Japan (Team Canada)… 1st place at European Champions Cup with RSV Lahn-Dill in Europe (domestic)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named All-Star in Kitchener, ON (domestic)… Named Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) Male Athlete of the Year…

2005: 1st place at Americas Qualification Tournament in Colorado, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at European Champions Cup with RSV Lahn-Dill in Europe (domestic)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named MVP in Edmonton, AB (domestic)… Won Paralympic Sport Award for Best Team Performance as a member of the Canadian Men’s National Team for their efforts at the 2004 Paralympic Games…

2004: 1st place at Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece (Team Canada)… 1st place at North American Cup in Birmingham, USA (Team Canada)… 2nd place at Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge in Warm Springs, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at European Champions Cup with RSV Lahn-Dill in Europe (domestic)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named MVP in Vancouver, BC (domestic)… Named Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) Male Athlete of the Year… Won Canadian Sport Award for Male Team of the Year as a member of the Canadian Men’s National Team for their efforts at the 2004 Paralympic Games…

2003: 1st place at Parapan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina (Team Canada)… 1st place at Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge in Warm Springs, USA (Team Canada)… 2nd place in National Wheelchair Basketball League with the Brisbane Spinning Bullets & named MVP & All-Star in Australia (domestic)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named MVP in Toronto, ON (domestic)… 2nd place at CWBL Open Finals with Twin City Spinners & named All-Star in Winnipeg, MB (domestic)…

2002: 3rd place at World Championships & named All-Star in Kitakyushu, Japan (Team Canada)… 1st place at Americas Qualification Tournament & named MVP in Vitória, Brazil (Team Canada)… 1st place at Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge in Warm Springs, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named All-Star in Montreal, QC (domestic)…

2001: 1st place at World Junior Championships & named MVP in Blumenau, Brazil (Team Canada)… 1st place at National Intercollegiate Championships (NIWBT) with the University of Illinois & named MVP in USA (domestic)… 2nd place at NWBA Final Four Championships with the University of Illinois & named All-Star in Chicago, USA (domestic)… 2nd place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named All-Star in Toronto, ON (domestic)… 2nd place at CWBL Open Finals with the Twin City Spinners & named All-Star in Saint John, NB (domestic)…

2000: 1st place at Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia (Team Canada)… 1st place at Pre-Paralympic Test Series in Amsterdam, Netherlands (Team Canada)… 1st place at Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge in Warm Springs, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at National Intercollegiate Championships (NIWBT) with the University of Illinois & named MVP in USA (domestic)… 2nd place at NWBA Final Four Championships with the University of Illinois & named All-Star in Chicago, USA (domestic)… 2nd place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named All-Star in Edmonton, AB (domestic)… 2nd place at CWBL Open Finals with the Twin City Spinners & named All-Star in Vancouver, BC (domestic)…

1999: 2nd place at Parapan American Games in Mexico City, Mexico (Team Canada)… 2nd place at National Intercollegiate Championships (NIWBT) with the University of Illinois & named All-Star in USA (domestic)… 3rd place at NWBA Final Four Championships with the University of Illinois & named All-Star in Chicago, USA (domestic)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named MVP in Calgary, AB (domestic)…2nd place at CWBL Open Finals with the Twin City Spinners & named All-Star in St-Hyacinthe, QC (domestic)…

1998: 3rd place at World Championships & named All-Star in Sydney, Australia (Team Canada)… 2nd place at Americas Qualification Tournament in Winnipeg, MB (Team Canada)… 1st place at National Intercollegiate Championships (NIWBT) with the University of Illinois & named MVP in USA (domestic)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named MVP in Winnipeg, MB (domestic)… 1st place at CWBL Open Finals with the Twin City Spinners & named MVP in St-Hyacinthe, QC (domestic)…

1997: 1st place at World Junior Championships & named MVP in Toronto, ON (Team Canada)… 2nd place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named All-Star in Vancouver, BC (domestic)… 1st place at CWBL Junior Finals & named MVP (domestic)…

1996: 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named MVP in Montreal, QC (domestic)…

1995: 3rd place at Canada Games with Team Ontario in Grande Prairie, AB (domestic)…

More Information:

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