Performance Institute Athletes come out on top at the Paralympics in Athens, Greece.

The Performance Institute would like to congratulate all the athletes who recently returned home after competing in the 2004 Athens Summer Paralympics. The Canadian Paralympic team “concluded the 12th Paralympiad with a total of 28 gold medals, 19 silver medals and 25 bronze medals for a total of 72 medals”.

Special congratulations go out to the Performance Institute Paralympic Athletes who played an important part of the impressive medal tally of Canada’s Parathletes. Performance Institute athletes who competed in Athens included the entire Men’s and Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Teams as well as Ian Chan-- Wheelchair Rugby player, and Yuka Chokyu-Wheelchair Tennis athlete.

“The Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball team completed a dominating performance defeating Australia 70-53 in the championship final to win the gold medal in the final day of competition at the Paralympic Games”. Steve Ramsbottom, Performance Institute owner and Strength and Conditioning Specialist, trained the men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams, and this year was officially named the official Strength and Conditioning Coach for both these teams.

Though the Canadian women’s wheelchair basketball team was disappointed at not making the championship game, they were able to re-focus to win the bronze medal with a 63-47 victory over Germany. Special Congratulations go out to Marni Abbot and Jen Krempien for their outstanding play and leadership in their 5th Paralympic Games!

Not to be outdone by the Basketball Athletes, Ian Chan, who also regularly trains at the Performance Institute, deserves a special mention for his role in the Men’s Silver medallists in Wheelchair Rugby. Congrats Ian!

Though she didn’t medal, congratulations also go out to Yuka Chokyu who won her first Wheelchair-Tennis match against a NZ athlete. Unfortunately, she lost her second match to the number 2 ranked player Daniela Di Toro of Australia.

Steve Ramsbottom has worked with wheelchair athletes and other Paralympians for several years and is currently working on a book outlining the training strategies he has found worked best for these athletes. Stay tuned for more info!

If you have any questions about the type of training that the Performance Institute does with any of our wheelchair or Parathletes, please call 604-291-9941.