The wheelchair basketball tournament promises to be an exciting spectacle at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with world-class players guaranteed to leave fans on the edge of their seats.
The men’s and women’s competitions will take place between August 29 and September 8 at the Bercy Arena in the French capital. Eight teams will be divided into two groups of four.
Group games will run until September 2, with the quarter-finals running a day later, culminating in the showpiece gold medal bout on September 8.
Let’s look closer at the men’s groups and the teams involved.
Group A: Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France
A strong group featuring three of the four additional qualifiers from the IWBF Men’s Repechage held in April: Canada, France and Germany. Great Britain secured their spot by winning the IWBF European Championships last August.
Canada heads to Paris with a balanced squad desperate to reignite the successes of 2012, when they won their sixth Paralympic gold in London. However, they have failed to make the podium since then. They beat Italy at the IWBF Men’s Repechage in April this year, to show the world that they still belong on the main stage. Will the experience, blended with youth, come good in Paris?
A lot is expected of the host nation France, who had to go through the Repechage in Antibes to qualify, beating Morocco to stamp their ticket. They boast a wealth of scoring options, along with solid playmakers. With the home crowd behind them, can they land their first medal since claiming bronze at Barcelona in 1992? They will be looked at as dark horses this year.
Germany were left frustrated at finishing fourth at the IWBF European Championships last summer, but made amends by qualifying for the Paralympics by beating Iran at the IWBF Men’s Repechage. The tournament saw a new era with Michael Engel taking the helm. Now that he has passed the first step in getting his nation to the Paralympics, we will see how far he can take them in Paris.
Great Britain has enjoyed much continental success, winning eight gold medals and 18 in total, more than any other nation. However, GB’s success on the Paralympic stage reads differently as they search for their first-ever gold medal. Their last taste of victory came at the IWBF European Championships when they beat Spain in the final in Rotterdam. With six Paralympic medals for this illustrious wheelchair basketball nation, can the seventh one be super gold?
Standout players
Canada will be looking to arguably wheelchair basketball’s most recognisable talisman Patrick Anderson to lead them on the offensive end. Anderson announced himself to the world stage at Sydney 2000, amongst the Canadians to gold and 24 years later, he is still capable of producing magic on the floor. He can score from anywhere on the floor and is also a widely rated playmaker.
Nico Dreimuller in action against Canada at the 2022 World Championships.
Germany has numerous players who can score points and a solid backcourt that can create, shoot, and defend stoically. Nico Dreimuller and Thomas Bohme will certainly be the keys to success for the Germans in Paris. They are well-rounded players with big-game experience and plenty of knowledge behind them. Those two will feed the forward line and get points freely.
France, like Germany, has a number of standouts and talent in every category. However, the free-scoring Nicolas Jouanserre will have that exciting presence that will ignite the hometown crowd. Jouanserre can dazzle by shooting from long range, hit teams where it hurts inside, and is a solid free throw shooter. He is the total offensive package.
Gregg Warburton in action at the 2022 World Championships
Great Britain has the perfect balance of experience and youth as it looks to better the four bronze medals it has won in the last five Paralympics. Gregg Warburton and Phillip Pratt will be key components to their success. Warburton is usually in the leading scorer stats for GB, and it’s easy to see why; he loves to get to his spot on the floor from midrange and use the backboard for his points. When he does that, it’s almost automatic. Pratt is the main playmaker. When he gets into his rhythm, he can score at an incredibly high percentage. On his day, the Welsh wizard is unstoppable.
Group B: USA, Spain, Netherlands, Australia
It’ll take a lot of work to look past the reigning Paralympic champions, the USA, but Spain, Netherlands and Australia will be incredibly tough opposition in an exciting group.
This pool also gives us an early rematch of the gold medal game at the Rio 2016 Paralympics when the USA beat Spain.
The United States, now looking for a third straight gold medal, heads into Paris full of confidence. They claimed their spot by winning the Santiago 2023 Para-Pan American Games last November.
They are undoubtedly wheelchair basketball’s most successful Paralympic nation, having won a total of 14 medals, including nine gold.
Spain advanced through the IWBF European Championships by finishing as runners-up and possesses the talent and players capable of building on their 2016 silver medal. Success will depend on their ability to unite as a team and maintain consistent performance throughout the competition.
Netherlands settled for third at the IWBF European Championships in front of their home crowd in Rotterdam. They breezed to eventual qualification at the IWBF Men’s Repechage in April by beating Columbia in the crossover.
Australia, a team with four Paralympic medals to its name, is determined to return to the podium for the first time since securing silver at the London 2012 Games. After a disappointing showing at the 2022 World Championships, the Aussies made a strong comeback by winning the IWBF Asia Oceania Championships, defeating Iran in a thrilling final to secure their place in Paris.
Standout players
The USA has stars in abundance, but none more so than Steve Serio, who will lead the team in Paris and the entire country as one of the flag-bearers. But alongside a decent scorer in Serio is Jake Williams, widely considered one of the best shooters in the game. Williams will be looking for his hat-trick of Paralympic golds, and with a player who can go lights out from anywhere on the court, he will be determined to do just that.
Ignacio Ortega playing for Spain in the 2023 European Championships
Spain’s run to the silver was with the squad, who played as a collective and a never-say-die attitude. Look for youngster Ignacio Ortega to make a name for himself for the Spanish on the Paralympic stage. He led the team in scoring and assists at the IWBF European Championships and can hurt you in many ways.
The Netherlands‘ offensive game flows through Mendel Op den Orth, who can find the smallest of cracks in the defense and score. Alongside Op den Orth is Mattijs Bellers, a solid inside presence who can be a handful under the basket.
Bill Latham in action at the 2022 World Championships.
Australia has been a force in the game for years but is eager to return to the Paralympic podium in Paris. Madrid-based Aussie Bill Latham will be one player who will look to get them back to where they feel they belong. One of the consistent scorers in wheelchair basketball, Latham has been around the circuit since 2009. He is a player who can find many ways to punish you, and his scoring touch will be critical for his nation.
To stay updated on the wheelchair basketball competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, visit the event page or follow us on social media #Paris2024WBB for the latest news and highlights.
Written by John Hobbs for IWBF / Photos IWBF/Steffie Wunderl Fotografie
