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Meet Canada's National Women's Goalball Team

A drive to win that won't stop.

The Canadian women's goalball team is heading to the 2024 Paris Paralympics to go for Gold.

Step inside their world of relentless training, personal sacrifice, travel, teamwork, and commitment - with endless bruises, scrapes and strains – and meet the elite athletes who are giving it their all to win for Canada.

Our documentary will bring you close to the action, showcase the personalities that make up this amazing group, and illuminate how they find purpose and connection as a team.

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Brace for impact

An evolution of fierce competition.

Goalball is a unique team sport designed specifically for athletes with visual impairments. Invented in 1946, the sport was initially created as a rehabilitation activity for visually impaired World War II veterans. Over the years, Goalball has evolved into a competitive sport and was officially introduced to the Paralympic Games in 1976. It's since grown in popularity and is now played in over 100 countries, symbolizing the power of sports in fostering inclusivity and resilience.

How does it work? The game is played by two teams of three players each, who wear blindfolds to ensure equal visual impairment. The objective is to throw a ball embedded with bells into the opposing team’s goal, using sound to detect the ball's location and movements. Players rely heavily on their hearing and tactile senses, making the sport a true test of coordination, teamwork, and strategy. Fun fact: The ball is quite heavy and it can hurt to be hit by it. Imagine flinging your body towards a sound, onto a hard wood floor to stop a fast-moving heavy projectile. It's a tough sport, played by top-tier athletes.

Paralympics 2024

Paris, here we come.

From August 29 to September 5, Canada's Women's Goalball Team will battle the best goalball athletes in the world to go for Gold.

⭕️ Thursday August 29 - Canada vs. France 8:45AM EST

⭕️ Friday August 30 - Japan vs. Canada 8:45AM EST

⭕️ Sunday September 01 - Korea vs. Canada 4:30AM EST

⭕️ Tuesday September 03 - Women's Quarterfinal

⭕️ Wednesday September 4 - Women's Semifinal

⭕️ Thursday September 5 - Women's Gold Medal Game

The Purpose Fund

Shining a light on incredible people.

The Purpose Fund was created by Titan ONE as a way of giving back through creative human storytelling. Each year we'll be selecting people and causes to support, and creating compelling 'connect with purpose' content to help draw attention to people and stories that matter.

Learn more about the Purpose Fund.

Behind the scenes

Get to know the team

Learn more about Amy, Brieann, Emma, Maryam, Meghan and Whitney.

Amy Burk - A member of the Canadian National Women's Goalball team

Amy Burk

In November 2023, team captain Amy Burk led her team to gold in women’s goalball at the Parapan American Games in Santiago, securing a berth for the 2024 Paralympics. Amy has competed in the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 Paralympic Games, and multiple IBSA World and Parapan Am Championships.

Born with Albinism and a visual impairment, Amy discovered goalball at age 12 through her teacher. Initially hesitant, she gave the sport another try in 2004 and fell in love with it, joining the PEI provincial team. In 2008, Amy moved to Ottawa and joined Team Ontario.

Brie - A member of the Canadian National Women's Goalball team

Brieann Baldock

Brieann Baldock helped Canada win gold in Women’s Goalball at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, securing a spot for the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Born with Oculocutaneous Albinism and legally blind, she discovered goalball at 16 and debuted on the national team in 2017. She made her Paralympic debut in Tokyo 2020 and played a key role in Canada’s fourth-place finish at the 2021 World Championships. Currently an accessibility advisor at Athabasca University, Brieann is completing her Bachelor of Education. She credits ASRAB for her transition from recreational sports to elite athletics.

Emma - A member of the Canadian National Women's Goalball team

Emma Reinke

Emma Reinke has been a member of the Canadian national goalball team since 2017. In 2023, she helped Canada win gold at the Parapan American Games, securing a berth for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Reinke scored a hat trick, including two penalty goals, in the 4-3 gold medal match against the United States. She led the tournament with 25 goals.

Emma made her Paralympic debut in 2020, scoring eight goals in four games. She has competed in multiple IBSA World and Parapan Am Championships. Introduced to goalball in grade nine, she joined Team Ontario in 2014 and quickly advanced to the national team.

Maryam - A member of the Canadian National Women's Goalball team

Maryam Salehizadeh

Maryam Salehizadeh made her Canadian debut at the 2019 Parapan Am Games, helping the team win bronze. Since then, she has competed in the 2020 Paralympics, 2022 World Championships, and 2023 Parapan American Games, where Canada won gold, securing a spot at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

Born visually impaired in Tehran, Iran, Maryam played on Iran’s first national women’s goalball team for 10 years and coached high school goalball for seven. She immigrated to Vancouver in 2016 as a refugee to pursue her athletic dreams. Maryam holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education and sports management from the University of Tehran.

Meghan - A member of the Canadian National Women's Goalball team

Meghan Mahon

Meghan Mahon has been a member of the women’s national goalball team since 2016. In 2023, she and her teammates won gold at the Parapan American Games, securing a spot at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Meghan competed at the 2016 and 2020 Paralympics and earned bronze at the 2019 Parapan Am Games.

Born with achromatopsia and 10% vision, Meghan tried various sports before discovering goalball at a 2012 summer camp. She joined Team Ontario in 2013 and won gold at the 2015 IBSA World Youth and Student Games. Meghan graduated from Cambrian College in 2017 and now works for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in Calgary, playing for Team Alberta.

Whitney - A member of the Canadian National Women's Goalball team

Whitney Bogart

Whitney Bogart (née Burk) will compete in her fourth Paralympic Games at Paris 2024. A key player on Canada’s women’s national goalball team since 2005, she debuted at the London 2012 Paralympics, helping Canada to a fifth-place finish. Whitney also competed at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games. In 2023, she helped Canada win gold at the Santiago Parapan American Games, securing a spot at Paris 2024.

Born with albinism, Whitney discovered goalball at W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind. She graduated from Fanshawe College in 2007 and Mohawk College in 2008. A mother of two, Whitney is also an athlete representative.

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