If there was a movie about Alison Levine, the introduction would spotlight the day she was announced as the first female player ever ranked number-one in the world in the BC4 boccia category. Then the rest of the story would flashback to how she reached that point.
The 31-year-old from Montreal has a degenerative neuromuscular disorder which gradually weakens the muscles as she gets older. This means she’s been forced to change sports on many occasions. She started in horseback riding at age 15, then wheelchair basketball, Para ice hockey, and wheelchair rugby (still her favourite) before finding her true calling in boccia.
‘’Adapting to sport keeps me on my non-functioning toes,’’ said a smiling Levine, fifth at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. ‘’For me it was important to make sure that sport was still in my life and always will be. I’ve pretty much had to adapt my entire life because I’m constantly changing.’’
For Levine to reach the pinnacle in her sport, she needed to make the decision that she would control her own destiny.
‘’It started as a choice and a conscious effort to be positive and putting things in life into perspective,’’ she said. ‘’It’s not something that came naturally. I tend to be more on the pessimistic side when it comes to situations, but I learned 99 percent of the time it’s going to get better.”
Through her journey, Levine has received countless support to become a sports star and independent woman led by her mother
Roberta Fried-Levine, a registered nurse who travels with her daughter to competitions as her sport assistant.
But there’s no journey without the person you must depend upon the most. Yourself.
‘’There is a light at the end of the tunnel but don’t wait for it to come to you. Go search for it, feel the pain, cry and scream and let it all out. You’ll get there. People are stronger than they think they are.’’
Levine says she wants to be an example for success for people with similar disabilities.
‘’If I can get one person to have the same experience as me then I’ve made a difference in this world. Whether you’re a powerchair user or the only girl in your club it doesn’t matter. I did it. You can do it.”
Her number-one ranking occurred in October 2019 and she maintains that position heading to Tokyo. A medal at the Games would be a crowning achievement in her unique, successful career.
It would also change the intro to her movie.
For more stories about Canada’s Tokyo 2020 Paralympians, visit Paralympic.ca/powerofsport
