A number of Manitobans will be representing the maple leaf in two weeks’ time for the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Ottawa. Both the men’s and women’s teams were announced earlier this week. Josh Brown from East St. Paul will be suiting up for the men’s team. Meanwhile, Winnipeg’s Bethany Johnson will take the court for the women, who are being coached by Lorette’s Joey Johnson and assistant coach Emerson Martin, also from Winnipeg. As well, the Mental Health Lead for both teams is Winnipeg’s Lindsay Berard. Joey Johnson has represented Canada as both a coach and player, competing in five Paralympic games. Being able to have home court advantage for the world championships is something he is excited for. “As an athlete, I got to play 19 years on Team Canada, and I never got to do a major event in Canada. So it’s very special for the athletes to get home games,” he said. “The world championships and Paralympics are the two pinnacles of the sport events, I would say. So to get to do this in front of family and friends on your home soil, it’s a very special opportunity for all the athletes.” The women’s team has seen success before playing in front of the Canadian crowd, as they won gold in 2014 at the world championship in Toronto. Their last world championship outing was in 2022 in Dubai, when they finished fifth. The women are in Group A with Brazil, China, Great Britain, Australia and Spain. The men have also captured gold previously at the world championships in 2006 in Amsterdam. They will be in Group D alongside Morocco, Germany and Iran. “Back in 2015, playing in the Canada Games, I never would have guessed this week I’d be going to the world championships in Ottawa and representing my country,” said Brown. “It’s one of the biggest honours and dreams for sure, even back then.” For Brown, it’s even more exciting that he also gets to represent Manitoba on the world stage. “I love being from Manitoba and representing Manitoba and now I get to represent Canada, and I feel like I’m representing them both, honestly. Something I’ve always been really prideful about.” The world championships run from Sept. 9 to 19. The world championships determine the number of spots each zone will receive for the 2028 Paralympic Games.
