Donna Ritchie

Donna Ritchie (born 28 December 1963 in Manly, New South Wales[1] is a wheelchair basketball player from Australia. She was part of the silver medal winning Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team[2] at the 2000 Summer Paralympics.[3]

Donna Ritchie
Ritchie celebrates with her silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics
Personal information
Nationality Australia
Born28 December 1963
Manly, New South Wales
Medal record
Wheelchair basketball
Paralympic Games
2000 Sydney Women's wheelchair basketball
World Championships
1994 Sydney Women's wheelchair basketball
1998 Germany Women's wheelchair basketball
Ritchie poises with the ball for a free throw during 2000 Summer Paralympics match

Personal

Richie was born on 28 December 1963 in Manly, New South Wales. Her parents were Ray and Georgina with siblings Sharon and Raymond. Her father Ray played first grade rugby league for Manly Sea Eagles and was first grade coach from 1981 to 1982.[4] At the age of 23, Ritchie broke the T5 and T6 vertebrae in her spine after falling backwards from a stone wall at Manly Beach.[5]

During the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, she met Dutch wheelchair basketballer Koen Jansens.[5] They married in 1999 and have a son and a daughter.[5]

"Paralympians don't have the time to worry about what doesn't work, they maximise what does!'”

Donna Ritchie[6]

In the lead up to the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, Ritchie was the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee's Community Relations Manager.[7] Since December 1995, she has been a New South Wales Institute of Sport board member.[8][9] In 2015, she is the general manager, Investment, Telstra Business. and a New South Wales Institute of Sport board member.[10]

Basketball career

Ritchie whilst recovering from her accident in hospital saw wheelchair basketballers training and this led to her taking up the sport.[5] Her wheelchair basketball classification is 1.5 points.[1] She attended three Paralympics Games – 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney.[1] The Gliders, national women's basketball team, came fourth in 1992 and 1996 and won the silver medal in 2000.[1] She was vice-captain at the 1992 Games and captain at the 1996 and 2000 Games.

Ritchie was a member of the Gliders at three World Championships – 1990, 1994 and 1998. The Gliders won the bronze medal in 1994 and 1998.[11]

Recognition

References
  1. Australian Media Guide : 2000 Paralympic Games. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2000.
  2. "Results – SYDNEY 2000 Paralympic Games – Wheelchair Basketball – Women". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  3. "Basketball Chronology". Basketball Australia. 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  4. "Vale Ray Ritchie". Manly Sea Eagles News, 13 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  5. "Paralympian wheelchair basketballer Donna Ritchie – Conversations with Richard Fidler". ABC website. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  6. "IPC President stresses importance of para-sport in rehabilitation". International Paralympic Committee Media Centre, 17 November 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  7. Cashman, Richard (2008). Benchamark Games : The Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. Sydney: Walla Walla Press. p. 131.
  8. "NSWIS Board". New cSouth Wales Institute of Sport website. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  9. New South Wales Institute of Sport. "Annual Report 1998–1999" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2012. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. "NSWIS Board". New cSouth Wales Institute of Sport website. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  11. "Northern Beaches Sporting Hall of Fame". Pittwater Council website. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  12. "Manly Pathway of Olympians". Monument Australia. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  13. "Donna Ritchie". It's An Honour. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
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