Wheelchair basketball player Josie Aslakson, 25, represents the United States women’s national wheelchair basketball team. She competed for the United States in the Summer Paralympics of 2020. She is now more determined to compete fiercely for the gold medal and has qualified for the Paralympics Paris 2024 for the second time.
Team USA qualifies for Paralympics 2024
Josie Aslakson from Jordan, Minnesota is part of the United States women’s national wheelchair basketball team for Paralympics 2024. This will be her second time at the Paralympic Games. She helped her team win the gold medal at the 2023 Parapan American Games. She also helped her team get the bronze medal at the 2022 IWBF World Championships.
“It’s more than surreal. The Paralympics are something that you only dream about and it’s happening, which is nuts.”
Josie said
Josie Aslakson’s major accident led her to paralyze
Josie Aslakson was born on September 14, 1995, in Edina, Minnesota, USA. Her parents are Theodore Aslakson and Becky Mill. Josie enjoys writing, films, and traveling.
When born, Josie had no disabilities. But at age 5, she had a bad car accident. This accident caused complete spinal cord injury. Even with excellent hospital care, Josie was paralyzed from the waist down for life. She would never feel her legs again.
Josie thanks her parents Theodore and Becky. They gave her mental and emotional support when she felt demotivated. Being paralyzed and not feeling half her body was difficult for Josie. But her parents’ support and belief in her helped. She never thought low of herself. Josie always worked to improve, for her parents who believed in her.
Josie Aslakson was an Archer before entering basketball
At age 13, Josie took archery lessons. The basketball coach saw her and told her to try basketball. The coach could see Josie had talent and encouraged her.
At first, Josie played with the regular basketball team at Jordan High School where she went. Surprisingly, she played at the same level as her teammates. She was one of the best players on the team.
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After high school, Josie joined the women’s wheelchair basketball team at the University of Texas at Arlington, called the Lady Movin’ Mavs. This is where her full talent showed. In 2014, she was chosen for the World Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Incheon, South Korea. Her team finished second after Australia. In 2018, she played for Team USA at the World Championships in Hamburg, Germany, where she finished sixth.
Josie was always an energetic and motivated athlete. She did not let her physical problems from the accident stop her.
How Josie Aslakson started to represent her country?
Josie has been part of the United States national team since 2017.
She represented the USA at the 2018 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship. Her team finished sixth in that tournament. 2018 was the first year Josie competed in Paralympic sports.
In August 2019, Josie played at the Parapan American Games wheelchair basketball tournament. She won a silver medal.
Josie represented the USA at the 2020 Summer Paralympics wheelchair basketball women’s event. She won a bronze medal.
Josie leads a team of women at the University of Arizona. These women faced similar difficulties but did not let that stop them. Josie was on this team when she was in college.
In 2022, Josie represented the USA at the Wheelchair Basketball World Championships. She won a bronze medal.
In 2023, Josie helped her team win the Parapan American Games. This qualified them for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The following USA athletes will participate this year: Josie Aslakson (Paralympic bronze medalist), Abigayle Jean Dunn, Rebecca Murray (two-time Paralympic gold medalist), Courtney Ryan (Paralympic bronze medalist), Natalie Schneider (two-time Paralympic gold medalist, one-time Paralympic bronze medalist) and Lindsey Alama Zurbrugg (Paralympic bronze medalist).
