Blaise Mutware

Place of Birth: Hindiro, Rwanda

Resides: Toronto, Ont.

Birthday: 14-05-1994

Height: 6'2''

Occupation: Student

Club(s): University of Arizona

Classification: 3.5

Biography

Blaise Mutware started playing stand up basketball before a serious injury led him to wheelchair basketball. Mutware was born in Rwanda and moved around to South Africa and Zimbabwe before settling in Toronto at age 13.

In Toronto, Mutware took up stand up basketball and also developed a passion for cooking. He was enrolled in culinary school at age 20 when he found himself confronted by two robbers and was shot in the leg. Most of the damage took place in the spine, according to him.

Doctors originally told Mutware he wouldn’t be able to walk again. Not long after, he discovered wheelchair basketball.

“I love the pace of the game and how I can be active and not feel limited in my abilities to play sports. I love how intense and aggressive the game is,” Mutware said.

Mutware first started playing with the Variety Village Rebels, a local club in 2015. In the same year, Mutware was invited to train with the National Academy Program at Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s National Training Centre.

“At the National Training Centre, I learned the technical and tactical pieces to the game and really started making gains mentally and physically. Now, my goal is to be one of the top players in the world in my class.”

Mutware was named to the Senior Men’s National Team in 2019 and says it is “an amazing honour to represent Canada.”

Off the court, Mutware continues to pursue his passion for cooking and says he hopes to become a chef one day.

Follow Mutware on Instagram at @Johnny.blvze.