Wheelchair basketball great Patrick Anderson announces retirement from Team Canada 

(by Wheelchair Basketball Canada) – After a storied four decades representing Team Canada, wheelchair basketball star Patrick Anderson has officially retired from the Senior Men’s National Team.
 
“On behalf of everyone at Wheelchair Basketball Canada, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Patrick Anderson for his incredible contributions to the sport,” said Wendy Gittens, Wheelchair Basketball Canada CEO. “We have been truly fortunate to have a front-row seat to witness his greatness as an athlete and share his remarkable journey.
 
“Patrick not only elevated wheelchair basketball to new heights but has also inspired countless individuals around the world. Patrick’s retirement signals the close of a transformative chapter, but his legacy will continue to inspire athletes for generations.”
 
Anderson is a three-time Paralympic gold medalist (2000, 2004, 2012) and a 2008 silver medalist. Most recently, he represented Canada at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, playing a key role in the Senior Men’s National Team’s best finish in 12 years.

“You just know. Deep down when the elastic band snaps and you’re like, ‘You know what, it’s just not in me anymore to put in the blood, sweat and tears to represent Canada at the highest level’,” Anderson said. “It’s been an honour to do it for a long time.”
 
The Fergus, Ont. native admitted the highs of the 2024 season helped cement his decision.

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In preparation for the Men’s IWBF Repechage Tournament, Anderson moved his family to Spain, where he played professionally in Bilbao.
 
At the last-chance qualifier in Antibes, France, the 45-year-old paced Team Canada in a thrilling 72-60 victory over Italy to cement a spot at the Paralympic Games.   
 
“It was a near-perfect year, the last one with the team,” said Anderson. “From deciding to go with my wife and kids to Spain to prepare for the qualifier, going to the qualifier and squeaking through in such dramatic, exciting fashion.
 
“Then hitting a wave and riding it through Paris – even though we came just short of our goal to win a medal, I looked around the room afterwards, and we were proud of ourselves. We had that great run that we’d been trying for since I came back in 2017 and hadn’t been able to put it together.”
 
Anderson, an opening ceremony flag bearer at the 2024 Paris Games, paced Canada with a double-double in the bronze medal game as the SMNT came up just short against Germany.
 
“I said before the Paris Games that it would be my last run, so the relative success we had isn’t why I’m retiring now, but it certainly confirmed my feeling about it after the Games were done that I really meant it,” Anderson explained.

Born in Edmonton and raised in Fergus, Anderson discovered wheelchair basketball after a life-changing accident in 1989 that resulted in the loss of both legs below the knee.
 
Anderson’s journey in the sport began with the Twin City Spinners under the guidance of coach Jeff Penner.
 
He made his international debut with Canada’s Junior National Team, leading the squad to back-to-back Under-23 World Championship titles in 1997 and 2001—earning tournament MVP honours on both occasions.
 
In 1998, Anderson transitioned to the Senior Men’s National Team, helping Canada secure a bronze medal at the World Championships. He added another bronze in 2002 before playing a key role in Canada’s gold-medal triumph in 2006.
 
At the collegiate level, he was a standout for the University of Illinois from 1998 to 2001, capturing three national titles.
 
Anderson’s professional career took him around the world, competing in leagues in Australia, Germany and Turkiye. In 2003, he was named MVP of the Australian National Wheelchair Basketball League, and from 2004 to 2006, he led German club RSV Lahn-Dill to three consecutive European Champions Cup victories.
 
Before spending the 2024 season in Spain, Anderson played eight seasons with the New York Rolling Knicks, winning four National Championships.
 
Looking back on his international career, a few moments shine above the rest.

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“I think it’s hard not to see London as a pinnacle partly because it was the end of the run with a pretty special generation of players and coaches. Also, I feel like I played my best games in the biggest games, so I feel a sense of personal satisfaction looking back on that,” said Anderson.
 
“Beijing, in its own way, stands out, not a high, but after I stepped away and licked my wounds, it clarified my focus going into London 2012. It helped me understand what I wanted to do differently going forward as long as I represent Team Canada.”
 
Despite its unique format, the 2024 Last Chance Qualifier in Antibes is a moment Anderson will cherish as he heads into retirement.
 
“As weird as that qualification format was, it was such an exciting, special moment. It was one of the pure thrills and highs that I experienced,” Anderson added.
 
Throughout his career, which saw him play provincially with Team Ontario and on teams such as the BC Cable Cars, Anderson crossed paths with many great teammates who became life-long friends
 
“I played with so many over the years, including some of the best ever to play.  Too many great players and people to name,” Anderson said. “I was the kid when I started, and the older guys were great big brothers. Always generous with me and gracious about the limelight.  In recent years, it’s been fun to get to know a whole new generation of players and to try to show them the same support and respect that the veterans showed me.
 
“The wheelchair basketball community in Canada has had my back since Day 1.  From the clubs to the PSOs to WBC and its leadership and partners.”
 
Anderson acknowledged the unwavering support of his wife, Anna, and his family, crediting them for enabling him to continue playing.
 
“I’ve had so much support from friends and family over the years, especially from my parents and from Anna, ” he said. “When Anna and I met in 2009, I had taken a break from the game. That changed. Throughout the second half of my career, she held things down at home with our growing family and was always my biggest and often loudest fan.”

Over his four decades in the sport, Anderson worked with numerous coaches at the National Team and club levels, each playing a pivotal role in elevating his game.

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“Jeff Penner and his foundation – I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without him building me up, not only my skills but my love for the game and my love for finding joy and creativity in the sport,” said Anderson. “Mike Frogley and the contributions of Paul Bowes and Jerry Tonello – that coaching staff – set us up as a team to draw on all kinds of strengths that we had as far as our personnel was concerned.
 
“I owe a debt of gratitude to all of those guys, particularly Frog, because he took that foundation that Jeff laid when I was a kid and built upon it at Illinois and with the National Team. He taught me how to play the game in a smart way.”
 
As Anderson embarks on the next chapter of his career, he’s giving back to the game while working with Team Canada’s NextGen athletes.
 
Currently, the Men’s Under-23 Team is gearing up for the Americas Championship, and Anderson is providing athletes with skills coaching.
 
“It’ll be a little bit of tactical feedback about how I read the game and advice on how to build out the technical part of their game,” Anderson said. “With wheelchair basketball, you have to get good at training by yourself and in small groups – I have decades of experience doing that. That’s the difference between good and great players – one who can put in the time, work hard, and focus on their own between camps, practices, and games. I’m trying to help them at this stage of their career – give them some ideas and try to make the most of their time alone in the gym.”
 
Additionally, Anderson is preparing to help launch a wheelchair basketball program in his hometown of Fergus. The program will begin with a 3×3 tournament and a house league over the summer.
 
Anderson bids farewell to Team Canada after parts of four decades proudly representing his country, earning numerous awards, medals, and accolades that showcase his excellence in the sport.
 
More information on Pat’s career highlights and achievements can be found here.