Amanda Yan
Biography
Amanda Yan is a rising star on the basketball court. Since first taking up the sport in 2011, the evolution of her wheelchair basketball game has been swift.
She was initially recruited to play in a local recreational league by coaches Joe Higgins and Marni-Abbott Peter. After earning most improved player honours in her rookie season, the Burnaby, BC native joined the BC Breakers club and helped the team to a national championship title in 2012.
Through countless hours of hard work and an unwavering sense of commitment, Yan seized every opportunity to improve her game. “The well-known saying ‘practice makes perfect’ is a motto that my basketball career lives by,” she says.
She credits the early morning and late night practices as the catalyst that led to her cracking the senior women’s national team roster in 2013.
“The opportunity to represent Canada is such an amazing honour. I’ve always dreamt of being able to don the red and white colours as a kid. Albeit, I never really thought it would come true, but here I am. It’s surreal.”
Off the basketball court Yan stays active with a range of other sports, including swimming, wheelchair racing, wheelchair tennis, as well as track and field events such as shot put, javelin and discus, and handcycling.
Interesting Facts
- Yan is a versatile athlete – in 2012 she was crowned a national champion in women’s shot put and she placed second in women’s wheelchair tennis (singles and doubles) at the national championship
- Her mother is her role model
Awards / Highlights
- Received the Wheelchair Basketball Canada True Sport Award (2014)
- Named CIBC Team Next Athlete in 2013
- Named All-Star at the CWBL Women’s Championship in 2013
- Recipient of the 2012 Avchen (Harivel) Pinkard Rookie of the Year Award (track & field)
- Named BC-CWBL Division 2 Most Improved Player in 2011-12
Major International Competition
| Tournament |  |
 |
 |
Other |
| Paralympic Games: 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5th (’16) |
| World Championships: 1 | 1 (’14) | 0 | 0 | – |
Competitive Experience
| Level | Team | Location | Year(s) |
| International | Canada (SWNT) | Canada | 2013-2014, 2016 |
| Club (dmoestic) | National Academy | Canada | 2015-2016 |
| Club (domestic) | Vintage Cable Cars | British Columbia | 2013-Present |
| Club (domestic) | BC Breakers | British Columbia | 2011-Present |
Career Notes
2016: 5th place at Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Team Canada)… 4th place at Continental Clash in Worcester, Great Britain (Team Canada)… 4th place at Dutch Battle in Almere, Netherlands (Team Canada)… 2nd place at Women’s International Friendly Tournament in Colorado Springs, United States (Team Canada)… 3rd place at Toronto Challenge in Toronto, Canada (Team Canada)…4th place at CWBL National Championship Tier 1 with the B.C. Royals in Kamloops B.C. (domestic)… 4th place at CWBL Women’s National Championship with the B.C. Breakers & named All-Star in Longueuil, QC (domestic)…
2015: 4th place at Osaka Cup in Osaka, Japan (Team Canada)… 5th place at CWBL National Championship with the BC Royals in Scarborough, Ont. (domestic)… 5th place at CWBL Women’s National Championship with the BC Breakers and named All-Star in Calgary, Alta. (domestic)…
2014: 1st place at the World Championship in Toronto, Ont. (Team Canada)… 3rd place at Toronto Challenge in Toronto, Ont. (Team Canada)… 3rd place at CWBL National Championship with the BC Royals in Burlington, Ont. (domestic)… Received the Wheelchair Basketball Canada True Sport Award… 1st place at CWBL Women’s National Championship with BC Breakers & named All-Star in Richmond, B.C. (domestic)…
2013: 4th place at Pioneer Classic in Birmingham, Alabama (Team Canada)… 3rd place at Osaka Cup in Osaka, Japan (Team Canada)… 5th place at CWBL Open Championship with BC Royals in Montreal, QC (domestic)… 4th place at CWBL Women’s Championship with BC Breakers & named All-Star in Longueuil, QC (domestic)…
2012: 1st place at CWBL Women’s National Championships with BC Breakers in Richmond, BC (domestic)…