Tamara Steeves is heading to the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Championships to represent Canada, and Abilities Centre couldn’t be prouder to cheer her on. A four-time Paralympian, Steeves has been part of Canada’s women’s wheelchair basketball team since 2012. And closer to home, she coaches the Abilities Centre Eagles wheelchair basketball team.
Her path to the national team started back in 2008, when she first tried wheelchair basketball and got hooked. She joined a local club team, put in the work, and by 2011 had earned a place on Canada’s first Women’s U25 National Team. That same year she picked up a bronze medal at the Osaka Cup and a silver with Team Ontario at the Canada Games. In 2012, she made her Paralympic debut in London.
Since then, Steeves has played in Paralympic Games in London, Rio, and Tokyo, along with several World Championships and Parapan American Games. Highlights include a gold at the 2019 Parapan American Games, where she averaged over 26 minutes a game and sank 75 percent of her free throws; a silver medal at the 2023 Parapan American Games; and an undefeated run helping Canada qualify for the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Off the court, Steeves points to her mother, her grandmother, and Terry Fox as the people who inspire her most.
Canada takes on Spain on September 9 at 4:15 p.m. on CBC Sports and the CBC Gem app.
Good luck, Tamara, Abilities Centre is cheering you on.