Canada’s women’s sitting volleyball team showing off their Paralympic Games bronze medals

If there is one team that has paid their dues in Canadian Paralympic sport, it is the women’s sitting volleyball squad.

Jolan Wong, originally from Vermilion, Alta. and now living 90 minutes west of Ottawa in Pembroke, Ont., has seen the program emerge from its fledgling beginnings in 2008 to Paralympic Games medallists in 2024.

“Holy, like 16 years went into this thing,” the 34-year-old Wong told CTV Ottawa two weeks ago during a ceremony to hand her the keys to the city of Pembroke.

“Sixteen years of support from friends and family and community.’’

(Photo: Facebook)

Six of the 11 athletes on the sitting volleyball squad were at their third Paralympics in Paris: Wong, team captain Danielle Ellis of White Rock, B.C., Jennifer Oakes of Calgary, Heidi Peters of Neerlandia, Alta., Felicia Voss-Shafiq of Burnaby, B.C., and Katelyn Wright of Edmonton.

Paris was a second Games for Julie Kozun of Melfort, Sask. and Anne Fergusson of Carleton Place, Ont., while Allison Lang of Edmonton, Jennifer McCreesh of Smithers, B.C., and Sarah Melenka of Vegreville, Alta. made their debuts.  

Wong has seen the team progress from 12^th place at the 2010 World Championships, to seventh at both the 2016 Paralympic Games (Canada’s first Paralympic participation in women’s sitting volleyball) and the 2018 World Championships, to fourth at the 2020 Paralympic Games then silver at the 2022 Worlds.

One of the masterminds behind this build is Nicole Ban, head coach since 2014.

“I think making history with the team was the biggest thing for me,” Kozun told northeastNOW about her memories of Paris. “Being able to say that we were Canada’s first sitting volleyball team (men or women) to win a medal is probably the part that has stuck with me the most so far.”

At the Games, the Canadians went 2-1 in the preliminary round. It lost to China in the semis then beat Brazil 3-0 in the bronze medal match. Canada had lost to the Brazilians in the prelims, the 2022 worlds final, and the third-place game at Tokyo 2020.

Like the entire team, Kozun’s been showing off the hardware.

“I got to bring it into a work event which was really great. Everyone’s very proud, so it’s been very nice,” said Kozun, a two time Paralympian, who works for Richardson Pioneer, a fully integrated Agribusiness.

Like Wong, Peters has been with the team since Canada’s first Paralympic Games appearance in 2016.

“Having that medal, having it put around my neck, feeling the weight of it in my hand. I know it is cheesy, but it is as close as I can get to magic,” she said.

Peters told Town and Country Today she hopes to repeat the experience in  four years at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.

“I just love the sport. I hope to be involved in it in some capacity always.”

While many sitting volleyball athletes at the international level are leg amputees, the sport can be played by athletes with other types of physical impairment as well. Wong hopes Canada’s medal will influence a new generation of players and fans.

“We’re trying to make the Paralympics a household name,” Wong said.

“The Olympics is amazing, elite athletes. The Paralympics is amazing, elite athletes that have overcome something huge in their life.”

(photo: Instagram)