Katie Harnock is heading to England with Team Canada this summer for the 2010 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships.
Canada’s national senior women’s squad is looking for its 5th straight title, but the 26-year-old said it won’t be easy winning another world championship.
“It’s going to be one of the most competitive,” said Harnock. “There are probably five, six or seven teams that can really step it up for a medal.”
Since 1994, Canada has walked off with gold at four consecutive world championships. The world title is up for grabs every four years and Canada is considered to be in the mix to add to its medal total.
“We’re definitely in the conversation,” said Harnock.
The world championships are being held in Birmingham, England from July 7-17.
Wheelchair basketball has taken Harnock to England before and she relishes the opportunity to go back.
“It’s one of my favourite places to go,” says Harnock, who has travelled the world playing basketball.
Harnock, a student at the University of Alabama where she also plays the sport, was selected to the women’s senior national team in 2006. Since taking up the wheelchair basketball at age 10, she has gone on to compete at international competitions around the world in countries, including Brazil, Australia and Japan, as well as the Beijing Paralympic Games in China two years ago.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be able to do that,” says Harnock, who continues to rack up frequent flyer miles. “There are a couple free flights on the horizon.”
Harnock was a rookie on the senior national squad when it won its fourth world title in The Netherlands four years ago. She now has extensive experience for the squad that Canada will field at the 2010 tournament.
“There are some new faces since Amsterdam,” said Harnock.
The Elmira native was scheduled to fly to Berlin, Germany on Monday, where the national team will participate in a preliminary tournament.
The team made its final preparations for the world championships on Canadian soil with a memorable week-long training camp in Ottawa, June 20.
The team captains were invited to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office on Parliament Hill, where he wished them good luck at the upcoming world championships. The captains also presented Mr. Harper with a signed team jersey.
Another high-profile fan, Canadian Minister of Sport Gary Lunn, dropped by a practice during training camp. While there, he tried his hand a wheelchair basketball — and impressed the team with a flawless lay-up.
Harnock said the publicity is good for the game.
“It kind of gets our sport out there, for people to see and take notice of it,” she says.