In the heart of the basketball court, where challenges become triumphs and you can hear the swish of the net and fans shouting, is a girl from Cologne, Germany. Lisa Bergenthal has been a wheelchair basketball player since she was 13 years old. For Lisa, the journey began with familial echoes resonating through the court. She gets inspired every day. “My Dad inspired me the most when I started wheelchair basketball because I was born with a disability, and he got the same, so it’s like a genetic defect,” Lisa Bergenthal shares, reflecting on the familial bond that ignited the spark.
Growing up surrounded by athletes in the gym, a hobby transformed into a calling. “It had a really big impact on my life because at the beginning, I started it as a hobby just once a week for practice, and now I can live from it and train almost every day.” But it is not easy. it needs a lot of practice and patience, and Lisa hasn’t found her perfect routine yet. One thing she does is practice her shooting. That is really important for her to gain confidence on the court. Every game brings its own challenges.
For example, the uncertainty of court time and the stress of competition become hurdles, a testament to the athlete’s enduring spirit. Another ritual Lisa does is seeing her friends and family before a big competition, and if this is not possible because she is too far away, she carries a friendship book with her. “Every wheelchair basketball friend has written in it. Before a game, I am picking a random page and read the lovely words from my friends and coaches. This helps me to see my skills, to realise who I am.”
In a career marked by highs, the COVID pandemic posed an unprecedented challenge. “I think my biggest challenge was COVID because when it all started, we couldn’t go to the gym.” So Lisa started doing home workouts, but it was hard to achieve the progress she would have made when training in the gym. After a while, the gyms opened, but it was not allowed to play in a team, so everybody could only do individual stuff. But she was not selected that day when all started with individual practice. “I really knew it’s going to be tough to be selected because I had no practice with the team. I was just doing it on my own, and I worked hard for it, and then it was worth it because the coach asked me to be part of the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2021.” It was Lisa’s debut on an international court.
“Playing in the Paralympics is like the biggest goal you can reach, and I am really proud of it.” This experience motivates Lisa to train hard for the Paralympics in Paris this year. “My next big goal is Paris because we hopefully qualify in April for the Paralympics 2024.” She is looking forward to securing a spot at Paris 2024, not just for individual glory but to elevate the team’s impact on the game. “I really have this individual goal to have more impact on the game, get more minutes, take my shots, and hopefully get a medal with my girls.”
In wheelchair basketball, teamwork plays a big role. “Teamwork in Basketball is super important because we’re not just having different skills, we also have different disabilities,” Lisa explains. “Because there is a classification system, and it is always a new challenge, but it fosters a deep sense of teamwork.” Everybody with a disability who plays wheelchair basketball got an individual point for their ability. You can just put 14 points on the court. So five players with 14 points mean the one with less disability got 4.5 points, and the one with the most got 1. “So you always need to check on the lineups who is playing now and how many points are on the court. You can’t just go with five players having no disability at all – you need to mix it up. And it is a really good thing because it makes the game fair.” In a Wheelchair Basketball Team you support each other. “We play together a lot.”
We have some people that are more for giving assists, passing the ball. Some are the best shooters and take more shots. And others are really important to protect our shooters or drive for them,” Lisa says. Lisa’s goal for this year is to train hard. “My individual goal is to have more impact on the game because last time, I was more like a motivator for the team, and I joined them, but I didn’t get many minutes on the court. And for Paris 2024, I really have this goal to have more impact on the game, get more minutes, take my shots that I get during the game.”
With every shot and every game, Lisa continues to inspire with her positive attitude, highlighting the true essence of triumph and diversity in the world of wheelchair basketball. Her team is like a second family for her, and she is really proud that her team includes everyone who wants to be a part of it.
