Over the past 12 months, a number of athletes continued to find their collective voice to enact change on-and-off the playing field.
Team Canada’s Erica Gavel is no different.
Along with her PhD candidacy at Ontario Tech University, which centres on research for athletic performance amid high-temperature conditions, Gavel currently serves on the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s (CPC) Athletes’ Council, as well as representing the Americas Zone on the new International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Athlete Steering Committee.
“It’s been a lot of fun to build a lot of positive relationships with very key people in the sports system,” said Gavel, who is also working on ergonomic improvements to help future Paralympians as a scientist.
“A lot of them are my mentors and the closest people in my life. It’s about building relationships together to improve the athletes’ conditions.”
While Gavel manages her role as a high performance athlete, scientist and athlete council member, she believes the process towards athletic advancements and better conditions is achieved through compromise.
“I think it all starts with relationships,” said the native of Prince Albert, Sask. “I never felt like I had to push for something. When I go into a meeting I always listen and then I’ll ask a bunch of questions and from there I’ll express things from my point of view. It’s about understanding different perspectives and finding a middle ground to respect people’s different perspectives.
“That’s how you drive change.”
Had a courtside seat in class today… sweatiest person there, for sure #Tokyo2020 (one) pic.twitter.com/I1RpPuoZ1T
— Erica Gavel (@EricaGavel) January 13, 2021
Prior to 2016, Gavel had no previous experience or “interest in getting involved with athletic member councils.” At the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, where Gavel helped Canada to a fifth place finish, she was approached with an unlikely offer.
“Someone asked if they could nominate me for the Ontario Basketball board of directors. I said ‘yes’ but I didn’t have any experience at all and I had no idea what it encompassed but I ended up getting selected.
“I think once I got into those meetings and understood the impact those committees have on governance and organizations—how it trickles down to athletes, I knew I could push for things that would improve the athletes’ quality of experience and that’s when I started to get involved more.”
Before seizing a full-time roster spot on the Senior Women’s National Team in 2014, the 29-year-old was a highly recruited star coming out of high school and went on to play for the University of Saskatchewan women’s basketball program. Her career was cut short after a serious knee injury before she took up the wheelchair game in 2012.
Representing the Huskies at the university level was one of Gavel’s “favourite experiences” and motivates her now in her many roles.
“It wasn’t until I went out and saw other environments where I realized [my experience at the University of Saskatchewan] was not normal,. Not every athlete has a positive experience, but I think every athlete does deserve that positive experience. Without the athletes, there’s no organization. I just think every high performance level athlete deserves the most amazing experience.”
With Gavel set to compete in her second Paralympics at the Tokyo Games, she cites her progress in education as a key contributor to the evolution of her preparation.
“As my education advanced so did my basketball. It’s helped me be more strategic with my training. ‘Is it going to help me get better?’ That’s always what I ask myself and I’ve definitely changed my approach from quantity to quality.
“Working with sport engineers, I’ve had lot of fun adapting because it makes you understand why you’re doing things. It’s what I do on a regular basis.”
Follow Erica (IG: @gavelerica / Twitter: @ericagavel) and Team Canada’s journey on the road to Tokyo:
Facebook: @wheelchairbasketballcanada
Twitter: @wcbballcanada
Instagram: @wheelchairbasketballcanada