Marni Abbott-Peter
Biography
Marni Abbott-Peter has enjoyed a distinguished career as one of the premier wheelchair basketball players in the world. A former athlete turned coach, she is a leader and advocate for Paralympic sport both on and off the court.
An avid downhill skier, Marni sustained a spinal cord injury after crashing during a routine skiing run when she was 18 years old. While in rehabilitation, she met Rick Hansen as he was preparing to embark on his Man in Motion World Tour. Hansen introduced Marni to wheelchair sports, which unveiled a world of new possibilities and reignited her passion for sport.
A native of Vancouver, B.C., Marni originally started her parasport career in the pool and found great success by winning four gold medals and one silver in swimming while representing Canada at the 1986 Pan American Games in Puerto Rico. It was there that she saw her first international game of wheelchair basketball.
Marni began playing wheelchair basketball in 1988 and it became her real passion. She made the Canadian national team in 1992 and won her first medal at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, that same year. She went on to capture two more Paralympic gold medals in 1996 and 2000, as well as a Paralympic bronze medal in 2004. She also won three consecutive world championship titles with Team Canada in 1994, 1998 and 2002.
“Winning my first Paralympic gold medal in Barcelona in 1992 was a moment for me that cannot be put into words,” says Marni. “The weight of the medal around my neck, sitting on the podium with my amazing teammates and seeing the Canadian flag being raised as our national anthem played; I get tears in my eyes just thinking about it.”
“That experience changed my entire perspective on my ‘new’ life as a person with a disability, and it still drives me to this day. I enjoy meeting with people who are newly injured and helping them understand that they can still live a happy, active and fulfilling life post-injury. Introducing them to sport and showing them all of the doors that sport can open is an amazing gift, one that I received at the right time, and hopefully I can do the same for others.”
Marni was a very tough competitor on the basketball court. Her excellent knowledge of the game made her a formidable defender and playmaker. She always trained hard and worked harder than anyone on the court. Marni was a candid leader on the team and could always be relied upon. For both rookies and veterans, Marni was encouraging and willing to help, yet she pushed everyone to improve their games.
Marni retired from the national team in 2004, although she briefly came out of retirement to help Canada to a bronze medal at the world championship in 2010.
With her playing days behind her, Marni now focuses on giving back to the wheelchair basketball community that has given her so much. Her main focus is now coaching, as she works to develop junior wheelchair basketball athletes in British Columbia. She has also served as an assistant coach with the Canadian senior women’s national team and both the junior men’s and women’s national teams.
Interesting Facts
- Married to former Senior Men’s National Team player Richard Peter since 2005 after the two met playing wheelchair basketball in 1994
- Marni served as honorary co-mayor of the athlete’s village at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games and was part of the broadcast team, covering the opening and closing ceremonies live with Brian Williams
Awards / Highlights
- Received Rick Hansen Award from the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (2011)
- Named Coach of the Year by Wheelchair Basketball Canada (2009)
- Inducted into the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Hall of Fame (2008)
- Inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame (2007)
- Named Coach of the Year by the BC Wheelchair Basketball Society (2004, 2008)
- Received the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association’s Stan Stronge Memorial Award (2001)
- She was the flag-bearer for Team Canada at the opening ceremony of the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games
Major International Competition
| Tournament | [medal, rank=1 size=’small’] | [medal, rank=2 size=’small’] | [medal, rank=3 size=’small’] | Other |
| Paralympic Games: 4 | 3 (’92,’96,’00) | 0 | 1 (’04) | – |
| World Championships: 4 | 3 (’94,’98,’02) | 0 | 1 (’10) | – |
Statistics
Paralympic Games
| Year | GP | Min | M/G | Field Goals | 3Pts | Free Throws | Rebounds | AS | TO | ST | BS | PF | FO | PTS | P/G | |||||
| M/A | % | M/A | % | M/A | % | OR | DR | TOT | ||||||||||||
| 2004 | 6 | 115 | 19:16 | 6/16 | 38 | 0/0 | – | 0/2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 2.0 |
| 2000 | 5 | 81 | 16:11 | 2/8 | 25 | 0/0 | – | 0/0 | – | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0.8 |
| 1996 | 5 | 78 | 15:36 | 5/10 | 50 | 0/0 | – | 0/0 | – | 1 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 2.0 |
| 1992 | 5 | 158 | 31:38 | 1/4 | 25 | 0/0 | – | 0/0 | – | 1 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0.4 |
| TOTAL | 21 | 432 | 20:36 | 14/38 | 37 | 0/0 | – | 0/2 | 0 | 6 | 34 | 40 | 26 | 37 | 10 | 0 | 40 | 10 | 28 | 1.3 |
World Championships
| Year | GP | Min | M/G | Field Goals | 3 Pts | Free Throws | Rebounds | AS | TO | ST | BS | PF | FO | PTS | P/G | |||||
| M/A | % | M/A | % | M/A | % | OR | DR | TOT | ||||||||||||
| 2010 | 7 | 112 | 16:02 | 3/9 | 33 | 0/0 | – | 1/2 | 50 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 1.0 |
| 2002 | 5 | 95 | 19:06 | 3/9 | 33 | 0/0 | – | 2/2 | 100 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 1.6 |
| 1998 | 5 | 103 | 20:34 | 2/8 | 25 | 0/0 | – | 0/0 | – | 2 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | 0.8 |
| 1994 | 4 | 74 | 18:30 | 0/2 | 0 | 0/0 | – | 0/0 | – | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | – | 0 | 0.0 |
| TOTAL | 21 | 384 | 18:19 | 8/28 | 29 | 0/0 | – | 3/4 | 75 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 34 | 2 | 19 | 0.9 |
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
| Level | Team | Location | Year(s) |
| International | Player, Canada (SWNT) | Canada | 1992-2004; 2010 |
| International | Assistant Coach, Canada (SWNT) | Canada | 2011-2012 |
| International | Assistant Coach, Canada (JWNT) | Canada | 2011 |
| International | Assistant Coach, Canada (JMNT) | Canada | 2005 |
| Club (domestic) | B.C. Breakers | British Columbia | – |
Career Notes
2014: 1st place at CWBL Women’s National Championship with B.C. Breakers in Richmond, B.C. (Head Coach, domestic)… 4th place at Junior National Championship with Team British Columbia in Edmonton, Alta. (Head Coach, domestic)…
2013: 5th place at CWBL Open Championship with the B.C. Royals in Montreal, Que. (Head Coach, domestic)… 4th place at CWBL Women’s Championship with B.C. Breakers in Longueuil, Que. (Head Coach, domestic)… 1st place at Junior West Regional Championship with B.C. Warriors in Prince George, B.C. (Head Coach, domestic)…
2012: 6th place at Paralympic Games in London, England (Assistant Coach, Team Canada)… 1st place at CWBL Women’s Championship with B.C. Breakers in Richmond, B.C. (Head Coach, domestic)…
2011: 2nd place at Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico (Assistant Coach, Team Canada)… 4th place at Women’s U25 World Championship in St. Catharines, Ont. (Assistant Coach, Team Canada)… 7th place at Canada Games with Team British Columbia in Halifax, N.S. (Head Coach, domestic)…
2010: 3rd place at World Championship in Birmingham, England (Team Canada)… 1st place at BT Paralympic Cup in Manchester, England (Team Canada)… 1st place at CWBL Women’s National Championship with the B.C. Breakers in Saskatoon, Sask. (domestic)…
2008: 1st place at National Championship with Team British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C. (Head Coach, domestic)… 2nd place at CWBL Women’s Championship with B.C. Breakers in Montreal, Que. (Head Coach, domestic)… Inducted into the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Hall of Fame…
2007: 3rd place at CWBL Women’s Championship with B.C. Breakers in Winnipeg, Man. (domestic)… 7th place at Canada Games with Team British Columbia in Whitehorse, Yukon (Head Coach, domestic)…
2005: 6th place at Men’s U23 World Championship in Birmingham, England (Assistant Coach, Team Canada)…
2004: 3rd place at Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece (Team Canada)… 3rd place at CWBL Women’s Championship with B.C. Breakers in Vancouver, B.C. (domestic)
2003: 4th place at CWBL Women’s Championship with B.C. Breakers & named All-Star in Toronto, Ont. (domestic)… 2nd place at Canada Games with Team British Columbia in Bathurst-Campbellton, N.B. (Head Coach, domestic)…
2002: 1st place at World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan (Team Canada)… 2nd place at the Qualifications of Americas Tournament & named All-Star in Vitoria, Brazil (Team Canada)… Competed at CWBL Women’s Championship with B.C. Breakers & named All-Star in Montreal, Que. (domestic)…
2000: 1st place at Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia (Team Canada)…
1999: 1st place at Qualification Tournament in Mexico City, Mexico (Team Canada)… 3rd place at CWBL Women’s Championship in Calgary, Alta. (domestic)… 3rd place at Canada Games with Team British Columbia in Corner Brook, N.L. (Head Coach, domestic)…
1998: 1st place at World Championships in Sydney, Australia (Team Canada)… 1st place at Qualification of Americas Tournament in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Team Canada)… 2nd place at CWBL Women’s Championship with B.C. Breakers in Winnipeg, Man. (domestic)… 1st place at the National Wheelchair Basketball Championship (NWWBA) with the Western Grizzlies (domestic)…
1997: 2nd place at CWBL Women’s Championship with B.C. Breakers in Vancouver, B.C. (domestic)…
1996: 1st place at Paralympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia (Team Canada)… 3rd place at CWBL Women’s Championship with B.C. Breakers & named All-Star in Montreal, Que. (domestic)…
1995: 2nd place at Canada Games with Team British Columbia in Grande Prairie, Alta. (Head Coach, domestic)… 2nd place at CWBL Open Finals with Kitsilano Krunch in Ottawa, Ont. (domestic)…
1994: 1st place at World Championships in Stoke Mandeville, England (Team Canada)… 2nd place at CWBL Women’s Championship with B.C. Breakers in Saint John, N.B. (domestic)…
1992: 1st place at Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain (Team Canada)…