 | ||||
 | Joey Johnson | |||
 | 2013 | |||
 | Athlete | |||
 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | |||
 | Canadian National Paralympic Team and Junior Team, Manitoba Provincial Team | |||
Joey is a native Manitoban who graduated from Lorette Collegiate. At 8 years of age he was diagnosed with a degenerative hip disease which closed the doors to any able-bodied sports. This disability paved a path to opportunity for him in wheelchair basketball, in which he became one of the best players in the world.
He attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he was selected an All-American and led his team to three National Championships in 2001, 2002, and 2003.
Joey's greatest success was on the international level where he competed in five Paralympic Games winning the Gold Medal three times in 2000, 2004, and 2012 and a silver medal in 2008. He won other Gold Medals at the 2006 World Championships and the 1997 Junior World Championships. He represented Manitoba at the club level and with the provincial team for 19 consecutive years.
As a pro, he played in Australia and then won many European and international events and was a member of the 2004 Paralympics team that was chosen as the Male Sport Team of the Year at the Canadian Sport Awards.
Joey has acted as a player-coach on many team and is a tremendous role model for young disabled athletes.