U.S. Squads Enter Postponed Wheelchair Basketball Worlds With Medal Hopes
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Athlete Bio#
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Age
44
Hometown
Dane, WI
Education
University of Illinois '05
Quick Facts
- Graduated from the University of Illinois in December of 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in community health
- Shortly after graduating, she moved to Denver, Colorado, to start the Denver Rolling Nuggets, a women's wheelchair basketball team
- Was the head coach of the U.S. National Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team for the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, helping earn a silver medal
- Hobbies include reading and coaching
Biographical Information
The U.S. women’s wheelchair basketball team won its first gold medal in 22 years at the Paralympic Games Athens 2004. Christina (Ripp) Schwab and Stephanie Wheeler went on to coach future national teams, Wheeler in 2016 and 2020, and Schwab in 2024. Both are members of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Hall of Fame. Six members of the 2004 team (Emily Hoskins, Becca Cisneros, Kerri Morgan Hoffman, Wheeler, Schwab, and Desi Warkins) returned to win gold again at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, marking the first back-to-back titles for the program. In 2004, the U.S. defeated five-time defending champion Canada in a tough semifinal and avenged a narrow group-stage loss to Australia with a 56–44 victory in the gold-medal game, setting the stage for continued success in future Paralympic Games.
Paralympic Experience
- 5-time Paralympian; 3-time Paralympic medalist (3 gold)
- Paralympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, gold (Team - Women)
- Paralympic Games London 2012, (Marathon T54 - Women), 9th (400m T54 - Women), 12th (5000m T54 - Women), 14th (800m T54 - Women)
- Paralympic Games Beijing 2008, gold (Team - Women)
- Paralympic Games Athens 2004, gold (Team - Women)
- Paralympic Games Sydney 2000, 5th (Team - Women)
World Championship Experience
- Most recent: 2010 – gold (Team - Women)
- Years of participation: Team - Women 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010; 1500m T54 - Women 2002, 2006; 400m T54 - Women 2006; 5000m T54 - Women 2002, 2006; 800m T54 - Women 2002, 2006; Marathon T54 - Women 2006
- Medals: 7 (2 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze)
- Gold – 2010 (Team - Women); 2002 (5000m T54 - Women)
- Silver – 2006 (Team - Women); 2002 (800m T54 - Women, Team - Women); 1998 (Team - Women)
- Bronze – 2006 (1500m T54 - Women)
Athlete News#
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE U.S. WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAMS HEADING INTO TOKYO
The U.S. wheelchair basketball teams are coming off a historic performance at the Paralympic Games Rio 2016, when both won a gold medal. The last time they did that was in 1988 in Seoul.In addition, Rio 2016 marked the first time that Team USA swept al...
RELATED NEWS#
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