Love & Wheelchair Basketball
In honor of Pride Month, U.S. Paralympic couple Courtney Ryan and Josie Aslakson talked through how they got together.
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Height
6'0"
Hometown
Tyler
Loraine Gonzales played basketball in high school and had an opportunity to play collegiately, but several knee surgeries and resulting complications led to the amputation of her right leg.
During her recovery, Gonzales was watching television and saw Chantal Benoit, a women's wheelchair basketball player from Canada. After that, she decided to find a local team with which she could play.
Gonzales made her international debut at the 2007 Parapan American Games and proved to be a major asset on the inside for the U.S., averaging 17 points and eight rebounds over six games on the way to a gold medal. Her presence in the post was valuable at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, where the U.S. Paralympic Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team won its second consecutive gold medal.
Gonzales' husband, David, also plays wheelchair basketball. She is certified in medical coding and billing and has recently been working with children with disabilities. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, music and playing all kinds of games.
Major Achievements:
- 2011: Gold medal - Parapan American Games, Guadalajara, Mexico
- 2009: Third Place Women's Nationals - Dallas Lady Mavs
- 2009: First Place All Tournament-Women's Nationals- Lady Mavs
- 2009: Willi Brinkman Champion (European League) - Cantu Aurora
- 2009: 1st place as a pro wheelchair basketball player, Italy
- 2009: Selected as 1st team All-Tournament, women's nationals
- 2008: Gold medal, U.S. Paralympic Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
- 2008: First Place - North American Cup, Birmingham, Ala.
- 2008: First Place - Joseph F. Lyttle World Basketball Challenge, Warm Springs, Ga.
- 2008: First place, All-Tournament Team member - Osaka Cup, Osaka, Japan
- 2007: Gold medal - Parapan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 2007: MVP - Pioneer Classic, Birmingham, Ala.
- 2007: Women's National Sportsmanship Award
- Four-time first-team All-American
- Arkansas Valley DII Conference MVP
Paralympic Experience
- 1-time Paralympian; 1-time Paralympic medalist (1 gold)
- Paralympic Games Beijing 2008, gold (Team - Women)
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