USA’s Boie looks to make “real impact” on a sport that has given him so much

USA’s John Boie joins the IWBF Players’ Commission as the male representative for the Americas Zone. After playing the game for nearly 20 years, he decided to stand for the Commission as a way to give back to the sport. On his election he said:

“It is an honour to be part of a group that can have a real impact on a sport that has given me so much in life and I look forward to serving current and future generations of wheelchair basketball players.”

30-year-old Boie, who was part of the USA Men’s team who claimed gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and took home silver from the 2018 World Championships, added:

“As a newer member to the international stage I hope to bring a different perspective in conjunction with other committee members who have played in multiple games.”

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, Boie set out his hopes for the new Commission:

“I think this is a great opportunity for the IWBF to connect with current players who are highly respected within the sport, allowing for great conversation and a broader scope to be given to their leadership as well.

“I hope to see as much growth in the sport as possible. With such a unique niche of a player base I hope for greater opportunities to get more people involved in the sport, whether in or out of a chair.”

Eight players will make up the new IWBF Players’ Commission, established to give international wheelchair basketball players a platform and a common voice in the governance of global wheelchair basketball. Paralympians Annegrit Brießmann (Germany), Hiroaki Kozai (Japan), and John Boie (USA), and 3X3 International Michelle Moganedi (South Africa) will join the original four players who were part of the IWBF Athlete Steering Committee – Ella Sabljak (Australia), Terry Bywater (Great Britain), Alhassan Sedky (Egypt), and Erica Gavel (Canada).