UTA Paralympian: ‘This will be a special Games’
Monday, Aug 26, 2024 • Cristal Gonzalez : contact
UT Arlington’s Élodie Tessier is heading to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to represent Team Canada in wheelchair basketball.
It will be her second Paralympic appearance. Tessier, a member of the Lady Movin’ Mavs, has been competing with the Canadian team since 2017 and made her Paralympic debut in Tokyo.
“This will be a special Games for me because my family has never seen me compete at this level in person. They were supposed to come to Tokyo a couple years ago, but because of the pandemic there were no spectators allowed,” said Tessier. “I’m very excited because I feel like I’m going to live and feel like a real Paralympian this year.”
Tessier has been playing wheelchair basketball since 2010. In 2019, she joined UTA’s Lady Movin’ Mavs and in 2023 earned her bachelor’s degree in supply chain management. This is her last year at UTA; in May 2025, she’ll graduate with a master’s degree in economic data analysis.
“I think UTA has brought me so much, not just in learning English and playing basketball, but also in teaching me my purpose,” said Tessier a native French speaker. “I know what I want. It has not always been easy, but I think I have the support I need, and UTA has also stepped in to give me what I need to be successful.”
For Tessier, the Paralympics are a dream come true.
“If someone would’ve told me that I was going to be where I am now, I would have never believed them,” said Tessier. “I would have never thought I would be a Paralympian, but I do know that I work hard and that I can achieve anything I put my mind to.”
The 2024 Paris Paralympics begin Wednesday, Aug. 28. Several Maverick alumni will be competing in Paris, including
Canada Men’s Wheelchair Basketball
- Vincent Dallaire, alumnus
- Reed De’Aeth, alumnus
Canada Men’s Para Athletics
- Brent Lakatos, alumnus
USA Adaptive Tennis
- Jon Rydberg, alumnus: co-head coach
USA Men’s Wheelchair Basketball
- Fabian Romo, alumnus
- Paul Schulte, alumnus
- Mike Paye, alumnus: assistant coach
USA Women’s Wheelchair Basketball
- Josie Aslakson, alumna
- Rose Hollerman, alumna
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