 |
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 6, 1986 Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Sport | |
| Country | Canada |
| Sport | T54 sprint, para ice hockey |
Jessica Matassa (born June 6, 1986) is a paralympic athlete from Canada competing mainly in category T54 sprint events. She was born in Windsor, Ontario. [1]
Jessica has twice competed in the 200m, 400m and 800m at the Summer Paralympics, firstly in 2004 where she won a bronze medal in the T54 800m and then again in 2008. [2]
Matassa underwent numerous surgeries in 2006 that prevented her from competing in 2006. She was not expected to compete again. However, after months of rehabilitation she was given the all clear to compete in 2007 and qualified for the 2007 Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She won gold in all three of her events: 200m, 400m and 800m.
Matassa competed as part of Team Canada at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. Placing 5th in the 200m followed by 7th in the 400m.
In 2009, Matassa competed in the Boston Marathon placing 5th overall among wheelchair racers. [3]
Matassa retired from racing following several surgeries in 2010 which led to her becoming deconditioned. [4]
In 2015, Matassa returned to parasport coming full-circle and rejoining the Windsor Icebullets. Encouraged by teammate Ashley Goure, Matassa attended Team Canada's selection camp the following season. Matassa was named to Team Canada's Women's National Sledge Hockey team roster for her first time in 2016. During her time on the team, she was one of several team members who were vocal about the sport's national governing organization (NGO), Hockey Canada and their minimal support, regard and funding for the Women's Sledge Hockey Team. [5] Matassa retired in 2019. While competing for Team Canada, Matassa continued training and playing with the Windsor Ice Bullets along with fellow Team Canada member Ashley Goure, and former Team Canada members Genna Norton and Heather Stewart. At that time, 2016–2019, the Windsor Icebullets had one of the highest ratios of women to men in the Ontario Sledge Hockey League.
Matassa was born with spina bifida. [4] In 2006, Matassa required surgery to correct Tethered spinal cord syndrome. Several serious complications followed requiring 6 additional surgeries within 8 months, including reoccurring Cerebrospinal fluid leaks that ultimately lead to life-threatening Meningitis. The initial tethered cord surgery was not successful due to the severity of the tethering of the spinal cord and Matassa would later required a cordectomy. In 2009, Matassa earned a private pilot's license. An achievement that required Matassa to design, test and have manufactured a set of hand controls, under the review and laws of Transport Canada to operate the rudder and brakes of a Rockwell Commander 112. Matassa's common-law partner is Cameron Sinclair. The two met in 2017 after meeting through common friendships within the Sledge Hockey Community.
Michelle Stilwell is a Canadian athlete and politician. She represented Canada at four Summer Paralympic Games, as well as the 2015 Parapan American Games. She competed in wheelchair basketball before becoming a wheelchair racer, and is the only female Paralympic athlete to win gold medals in two separate summer sport events.
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The 2014 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup was an international women's sledge hockey tournament and the first IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup in history. The event was held from November 7–9, 2014, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Three teams took part: the Canada women's national ice sledge hockey team, a unified team from Europe, and the United States women's national ice sledge hockey team. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee.
The Canada women's national ice sledge hockey team is the national team representing Canada in women's international sledge hockey. The team competed at the IPC International Cup and now competes at the Para Ice Hockey Women's World Challenge. The team currently receives funding from the Hockey Canada Foundation through grants which enables it to run a grassroots development program.
Ashley Goure is an athlete that participates in women's ice sledge hockey. A member of the Canada women's national ice sledge hockey team since 2006, she competed in the first-ever IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup in 2014.
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Curtis Edward Thom is a Canadian wheelchair racer. In 2016, he competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics for Team Canada and won a bronze medal in the T54 4X400-m relay.
