The Fergus, Ont. native was inspired by athletes from the ’88 and ’96 Games
For Patrick Anderson, the idea of competing in the Paralympics and Wearing the Leaf was planted the first time he rolled onto the basketball court following his accident.
“I was with Paralympians from the 1988 Seoul Games, and it planted that seed in my imagination right away – long arms, short legs – maybe someday,” Anderson recalled.
Then, in 1996, while training and couch surfing in Whitewater, Wis., Anderson was inspired by the Canadian athletics team competing at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
“I remember watching Donovan Bailey win the 100-metre race and, even more memorably, the Canadian team winning the 4 x 100,” he said.
“That sparked something in me.”
While inspired by Bailey and Team Canada in Atlanta, the success of the U.S. wheelchair basketball team got the Fergus, Ont. native interested in the Paralympic Games.
“My earliest memories of caring about, and paying attention to, the Paralympics was cutting out pictures of the U.S. national team,” Anderson explained. “Everyone I met in Canada and elsewhere told me that the U.S. was the team, and they had all these legends like Daryl ‘Tree’ Waller and Dave Kiley and on down the list – I had a little scrapbook with all these American players cut out and pasted together.
“I guess I dreamed of not playing for the U.S. but beating the U.S.”
Anderson’s first international appearance was in 1997 when he represented Canada at the World Junior Championships.
As an 18-year-old, Anderson was named tournament MVP as Canada finished first.
He credits coaches Paul Bowes and Jeff Penner for setting the example of what it means to represent the country at international tournaments.
“They brought a lot of joy and a lot of pride to representing Canada on the international stage – and enjoying the sport and enjoying the community of the sport,” said Anderson. “We wanted to win, but they set an example for me that it’s a real honour, and it can be both a real challenge and a lot of fun simultaneously.”
Anderson joined the Senior Men’s National Team in 1998, helping Canada to a third-place finish at the World Championships in Sydney, Australia, where he was also named a tournament all-star.
He returned to Sydney two years later for his first Paralympic Games.
With his parents and family in attendance, Anderson helped Canada win the first of three Paralympic gold medals.
“The feeling for me was a little bit of relief, but more just joy,” said Anderson. “Maybe it’s because I was the lightest guy, but I got to go up on the hoop. Winning was amazing, and I was honoured to be lifted onto the hoop to cut down the mesh, put the mesh around my neck and hold up the flag – have that moment with the fans.
“Even in the moment, I was mindful it’s not me up here. It felt like I was representing not only the team but everybody who got us there, and I was proud, honoured, and humbled to be the person sitting up there.”
Having worn the leaf and represented Canada globally for nearly three decades, Anderson has developed an excellent understanding of what it means to wear the leaf and a better appreciation for representing the country.
“Part of representing Canada competitively is just trying to plant our flag,” he said. “When people think about Canada, they think, ‘Man, they’ve got a great wheelchair basketball team, a great program, and competitive athletes who play with integrity and work hard and respect the game.’
“Over three decades, I’ve had times when I modelled that and other times when I haven’t. There have been ups and downs, but that’s sort of the standard. I’m trying to go out there and represent Canada with integrity, but also a lot of fierceness, compete hard, and not roll over, no matter what the odds are.”