News

After an 10 year playing career with the Great Britain Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team and getting more than 70 GB Caps - I have decided it is time to retire from International Basketball.

 

It has not been an easy decision to make but I feel it is the right time – I am struggling physically due to my disability to do the amount of training needed to compete at a high level and have made the hard decision not to go back to the GB Team.  I have always said that if I am not enjoying it I will retire.  I have given it my best shot and am so proud to have played for my country but it’s time to walk away.

 

I started playing wheelchair basketball in 1997 after having to retire from playing hockey and tennis due to a chronic knee problem which prevented me from running.  I was selected to join the Great Britain team in March 1998 after a Women’s Development Day at Northgate Arena which was attended by the current GB Players.  I then trained the next day with the team and was so excited to have been chosen.

 

My first experience of playing for the Great Britain Team was at the World Championships in Sydney 1998.  I will never forget the amazing feeling of pulling on a GB vest for the first time – I was so proud and nervous all at the same time!!

 

My playing career is as follows:

 

1998 - Gold Cup World Wheelchair Basketball Championships, Sydney - 7th place

 

1999 - European Championships - Holland , 3rd place, Bronze medal and qualification for Sydney 2000 Paralympics.

 

2000 - Roosevelt Cup and Walker Cup - USA ,

 

2000 - Sydney Paralympic Games – 8^th place.

 

2002 - Gold Cup World Wheelchair Basketball Championships, Japan - 8th place

 

2003 - European Championships- Hamburg -  3rd place, bronze medal and qualification for Athens 2004.

 

2004 - VISA Paralympic World Cup, Manchester - Silver medal

 

2004 - Athens 2004 Paralympics –(non travelling reserve)

 

2005 - VISA Paralympic World Cup, Manchester – (non travelling reserve)

 

2005 - European Championships, France - fourth place

 

2007 – VISA Paralympic World Cup – Manchester – fourth place

 

2008 – Paralympic World Cup- Manchester – Bronze Medal

 

Unfortunately due to injury I missed out on selection for Athens Paralympics in 2004 and was not included in the Squad for Beijing Paralympics in 2008. I competed at Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and that was the most amazing experience of my life, it was disappointing not to go to another games but I will always have those memories of Sydney 2000.  I still have my tracksuit and playing vest from Sydney and they are some of my most treasured possessions.

 

I have been to many tournaments all over the world and I will miss being part of the team and the buzz of playing for my country.  I have worked very hard at becoming the best player I can be and have found it more and more frustrating over the last couple of years.  I have repeatedly picked up niggling little injuries and I have struggled with the pain condition in my legs which can now make it very uncomfortable to be in my basketball chair for any length of time.

 

I have recently become involved with the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust and have become one of the athletes on their ‘Harnessing Talent’ Scheme.

 

Dame Kelly started her Trust with the aim of harnessing the talents of Elite Athletes to ‘Inspire young people to find and fulfil their potential in sport or in life through our workforce of elite sports performers.’  The scheme is for retiring and retired sports performers and is designed to help athletes plan what they want to do next with their lives.  So far I have worked on a scheme in Liverpool with disadvantaged young people and am looking forward to being more involved and passing on skills and lessons I have learned through sport.

 

I do not plan to give up Wheelchair Basketball completely - I still plan to play Wheelchair Basketball for my club the Celtic Warriors at Darland High School in Rossett.  My next aim is to do my coaching awards so I can help develop the club further and work more with our Juniors to help create a Junior Warriors Team.  I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at the club for their support and patience over the years while I have been whizzing all over the place training and competing.

 

I will be spending more time working with the Air Cadets now, I have been a Warrant Officer for nearly 15 years now and am currently based with 1074 (Ellesmere Port) Squadron.  I am really looking forward to being able to take them on camps and activities as I have not had many spare weekends over the last 11 years.

 

I still plan to play sports and am going to give Wheelchair Tennis and Badminton a go and plan to try Disability skiing at some point.  But for now I am enjoying having time to chill and relax and spend time with friends and family.

 

I have loved playing for the Great Britain team and will treasure my experiences and always remember the places I have been.  I have been privileged to meet some amazing people during my time on the team and have made friends all over the world.

 

Pam Gardiner my physiotherapist, from Willaston Physiotherapy Clinic has been truly amazing and I would like to say a huge thank you to her - she has patched me up on many occasions and I am sure I would have had to retire much earlier if it was not for her help. 

 

Finally I would like to say a huge thank you to my friends and family and everyone who has supported me during my career with GB.

 

Wheelchair Basketball is an amazing and exiting sport to watch and play – if anyone wants to come and have a go – contact our club on celticwarriorsbasketball@yahoo.co.uk or ring us on 07711 356541 – anyone can play the game – you do not have to have a disability.  Our Club welcomes players of all ages and abilities.

 

Anna Jackson

Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Team 1998-2008.