Sydney 2000 The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games determined the program of sports for 2000. Two new sports at the 2000 Paralympic Games were wheelchair rugby and sailing, which were demonstration sports in Atlanta. The following 18 sports, 14 of which are also the Olympic sports program, passed the selection criteria: Archery, Athletics, Basketball, Boccia, Cycling, Fencing, Football, Goalball, Judo, Powerlifitng, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis and Volleyball. Several BCWSA athletes, coaches and sport administrators attended the Games and many came back with a Gold medal experience. Marni Abbott Don Alder Jo-Anne Burleigh Ian Chan Yuka Chokyu Tim Frick Eric Hagreen Kenny Hall Paul Johnson Jennifer Krempien Richard Peter Jack Ramsay Marty Rust Kelly Smith James Treuer Chris Trifonidis Marni Abbott was an integral member of the women's gold medal team in Sydney. She was also a member of the 1992 and 1996 Paralympic Gold medal teams. As a veteran, she was relied upon for her experience, strength and confidence in leading the team to the gold medal final. Don Alder was the Equipment Manager for Wheelchair Rugby. He has been involved in wheelchair sports for several years and currently sits on the board of BC Wheelchair Sports. Jo-Anne Burleigh went to Australia as the Assistant Coach for Women's Wheelchair Basketball who won a Gold Medal. She has been involved in organized sport at the highest level for several years. She was the 1997 Assistant Chef for Team BC at the Canada Games in Brandon and is the President of BC Wheelchair Basketball. Ian Chan was a member of the Men's Wheelchair Rugby finishing in 4th place in Sydney. He is a dedicated athlete who trains hard and works hard. He was a member of the 2000 National Championships gold medal team. This was the first time ever that wheelchair rugby was a full medal sport at the Paralympic Games. Yuka Chokyu competed in Wheelchair Tennis. It was Yuka's first Paralympic experience. 1998 was her break through year. She is the only Canadian Wheelchair Tennis Player (male or female) to ever reach Top 10 in the world. In 1998, she was named Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association Female Athlete of the Year and was the National Women's Singles Champion. Port Coquitlam's Tim Frick was the coach of the women's gold medal winning wheelchair basketball team. Coach Frick has the theory, the technical expertise, and the practical training to make him one of the best in the world. He has carved out a career coach position for himself and has a very impressive cross sport background, which compliments his ability to analyze situations and react to changing circumstances. He has coached the women's wheelchair basketball team to three consecutive Paralympic gold medal performances. Eric Hagreen went to the Games as the Equipment Manager for Athletics. This was his first time at an international Games. A wheelchair basketball athlete, Eric's job was to make sure the wheelchairs were in top competition form in Sydney. Kenny Hall was a member of the Gold Medal winning Men's Wheelchair Basketball team. He has been playing basketball for the past 17 years. He was a member of the Canadian team who won a silver medal at the1999 Qualification Tournament in Mexico City and won a bronze medal with the team at the 1998 Gold Cup World Championships. National Team Member, Paul Johnson, is currently ranked 14th in the world on the International Wheelchair Tennis Tour. He is the 2000 Candian wheelchair tennis singles champion, Canadian wheelchair tennis doubles champion and was chosen the 2000 BCWSA Athlete of the Year. Paul is truly a world class tennis player and has represented Canada at three Paralympic Games, 1992, 1996 and these 2000 Games in Sydney. Jennifer Krempien is a new member of BCWSA and was a member of the Women's Wheelchair Basketball team. She has been playing wheelchair basketball for thirteen years, starting her development in the Alberta Northern Lights Junior Program. Richard Peter won a Gold Medal with the Men's Wheelchair Basketball team. He is a member of the Cowichan First Nation Band and works with native youth groups in promoting good habits. He is an all-around athlete competing in racquetball, tennis, athletics and ball hockey and was a member of the 1996 Paralympic team. Jack Ramsay went to the Games as an Equipment Manager for Shooting. He has been involved in shooting for several years and is the driving force behind the sports ever increasing popularity. Marty Rust was the Head Coach for Wheelchair Rugby in Sydney. He coached the National Rugby team to a fourth place finish at the Paralympics. Rust was an assistant coach with the National team at the Stoke Mandeville Games and is active in the classification process for Wheelchair Rugby athletes. Kelly Smith competed in Athletics. He had a 10th place finish in the Marathon in Sydney. Smith had a sixth place finish at the recent Boston Marathon and made the National Team in 1999, just three years after taking up the sport. This was his first Paralympic experience. James Treuer competed on the Gold Medal winning Men's Wheelchair Basketball team. He was a member of the BC Provincial Champions at the 2001 National Championships in Toronto and was the MVP at the 2001 CWBL league championships. He has been a member of the National team since the age of 18. Chris Trifonidis competed in Shooting. He had a seventh place finish in Free Rifle Prone Mixed Final in Sydney. He has been on the national team for ten years and fell into the sport during rehabilitation.