TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - Wheelchair Basketball Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee congratulate legendary wheelchair basketball bench boss Tim Frick who today became the first Paralympic coach ever to be inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. The 2014 Induction Celebrations were presented by Canadian Tire at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Ont.
As head coach of the Canadian Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team from 1990 to 2009, Frick, of Pender Island, B.C., developed Team Canada into one of the most dominant teams in the history of Canadian amateur sports. He led Canada to a decade-long undefeated streak in major international competition, including an unprecedented three consecutive Paralympic gold medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000; and four consecutive World Championship gold medals in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. Frick's teams also captured bronze medals at the 1990 World Championship and 2004 Paralympic Games.
"It is a tremendous honour to be inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame as the first Paralympic coach, and it's made even more special to be joining the two athletes who made my involvement in Paralympic sport possible, Rick Hansen and Terry Fox," said Frick. "But really it was 19 plus years of dedicated athletes and staff, great assistant coaches and unwavering support from Wheelchair Basketball Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee that made our legacy possible. I wish I could thank every Team Canada player and supporter personally for a lifetime of wonderful friendships and magical experiences."
Frick, who is the world's most successful wheelchair basketball coach of all-time, was joined on stage by two of his former athletes. Wheelchair basketball Paralympian and three-time gold medalist, Marni Abbott-Peter and the "Man in Motion", Rick Hansen presented him with his award.
"Tim has changed the sport of wheelchair basketball around the world with his positive attitude and enthusiasm for the game," said Abbott-Peter. "He is a creative, innovative learner and teacher and has the power to guide, inspire, and empower an athlete or team to achieve their full potential. He cares deeply about people and abides by his mantra to enjoy every moment. I am lucky to have been coached by Tim and even luckier to have him as a friend."
Frick was inducted into the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2013. The Canadian Paralympic Committee also named its high-performance coaching excellence award the Tim Frick Paralympic Coach Excellence Award in his honour in 2010.
"Tim's accomplishments on and off the court are simply staggering. He is certainly most deserving of the honour and distinction of being the first Paralympic coach inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. His contributions to the sport continue to have a positive impact and help to position Canada as a world leader in wheelchair basketball, making him a truly inspirational role model for all Canadians," said Wheelchair Basketball Canada Executive Director Wendy Gittens.
"The Canadian Paralympic Committee was thrilled to hear of Tim's induction in to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame," said Gaétan Tardif, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. "Everyone who played for him will tell you they were successful because of the character and ethics he instilled in his teams. Tim cared for them not only as athletes, but as human beings. A huge congratulations to Tim on this honour."
For more on Tim Frick's coaching legacy, view the Canadian Paralympic Committee video: http://youtu.be/SqmtHcDmC0Q?list=PLwy-yHUC29ESM6K-vWgX2oTZopTfKXJrq
In addition to his involvement in wheelchair basketball, early in his career Frick also coached Hansen during his Man in Motion World Tour. Frick's legacy extends beyond the medal count, as he continues to make significant contributions to the sport community through coach development. He is a respected mentor who strives to create greater opportunity for fellow coaches to gain valuable technical experience. He is actively involved in the implementation of the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and spearheads clinics and training sessions designed to develop the next generation of great coaches.
About Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is an international award-winning facility with over 40,000 square feet of inspiring experiences. Located at Canada Olympic Park (COP), site of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame features 12 galleries, more than 50 hands-on interactive experiences and a collection of more than 95,000 artifacts. Our mission is to share the stories of the achievements of our Honoured Members so that we can inspire all Canadians to be the best they can be in all aspects of life; Inspiring Canadians – in sport and life. For more information, please visit www.sportshall.ca.
About Wheelchair Basketball Canada
Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the national sports governing body responsible for the organization of the sport in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization that is committed to excellence in the development, support and promotion of wheelchair basketball programs and services for all Canadians from grassroots to high performance. Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced, hard-hitting, competitive sport in which Canada is held in high esteem around the world for winning a combined six gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in the last six Paralympic Games. For more information, please visit www.wheelchairbasketball.ca
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 25 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is to be the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian high performance athletes with a disability and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca
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Image with caption: "Wheelchair Basketball Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee congratulate legendary wheelchair basketball bench boss Tim Frick who today became the first Paralympic coach ever to be inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. (CNW Group/Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141022_C3007_PHOTO_EN_7008.jpg
SOURCE: Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)
Jody Kingsbury, Manager Marketing and Communications, Wheelchair Basketball Canada, Tel: 613-260-1296 ext. 204, Cell: 613-851-2337, [email protected]; Alison Korn, Manager Media Relations and Communications, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Tel: 613-569-4333 ext. 243, Cell: 613- 298-4927, [email protected]
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