Bo Hedges named to Canada’s wheelchair basketball team for Paris Paralympics

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Wonowon’s Bo Hedges has been named to the final roster for Canada’s national wheelchair basketball men’s team for the upcoming Paris Paralympics.

Hedges was one of eleven players returning from the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, where the Canadians placed eighth. 

They qualified for the games by defeating Italy 72-60 on the final day of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation’s repechage tournament in April.  

A team captain, Hedges will be playing in his fifth Games when the team tips off against the hosts France later next month.

“It’s cool to qualify for the Paralympics no matter how you do it, and that added an extra layer – winning that quarterfinal and being in that scenario at the repechage tournament,” Hedges said.

“It was great to qualify, get to Paris, and now be one of the top eight teams playing for a medal at the Paralympics.”

Canada will face stiff competition in their group with Great Britain and Germany joining the French as their opponents in group A. 

The British earned the bronze medal in the 2016 Paralympics, while the Germans beat the Canadians 83-63 on July 13th in Ulm, Germany.

“The group itself – there are no easy teams, no easy group. All eight teams are going to be a challenge,” Hedges added.  “We’ll have a bunch of tough games in the round-robin and then see how the quarterfinals go. It’s not an easy go, but it’ll be fun.”

The roster announcement has only added to the accolades Hedges has received this year. 

In January, the 44-year-old was nominated for the SportBC Athlete with a Disability award at the 56th annual ceremony in March.

Hedges is also the subject of the documentary “Dream Big Fort St. John and Beyond,” a film test screened at the Lido Theatre, depicting Hedges’ background in Wonowon and the year he won a Paralympic gold medal.

The Summer Paralympics take place from August 29th to September 8th at the Barcy Arena in Paris, France.