Mavericks Dominate at 2024 Paralympics

The 2024 Paralympics this summer saw UTA athletes excelling on the global stage once again.

UTA’s Élodie Tessier (’23 BBA, Operations and Supply Chain Management) made her second Paralympic appearance at the 2024 Paris Games, representing Team Canada in wheelchair basketball. A member of the Lady Movin’ Mavs, Tessier has been competing with the Canadian national team since 2017, and she made her Paralympic debut in Tokyo.

“This one was special because my family finally got to see me compete in person,” says Tessier. “I really felt like a real Paralympian this time.”

Tessier, who began playing wheelchair basketball in 2010, joined the Lady Movin’ Mavs in 2019. She is now pursuing a master’s in economic data analysis, set to graduate in 2025.

“UTA has given me so much—learning English, playing basketball, and discovering my purpose,” says Tessier, a native French speaker. “It wasn’t always easy, but the support from UTA helped me succeed.”

Several other Mavericks made their mark at the 2024 Paralympics, with nine alumni competing on behalf of Team USA and Team Canada in wheelchair basketball, para athletics, and tennis. Among the competitors, many medaled in their events: Fabian Romo (’20 BS, Kinesiology) and Paul Schulte (’05 BS, Mechanical Engineering) won gold with Team USA in men’s wheelchair basketball, while Josie Aslakson and Rose Hollermann (’19 BA, Interdisciplinary Studies) took silver with Team USA in women’s wheelchair basketball. Brent Lakatos (’04 BS, Software Engineering) brought home gold for Team Canada in the men’s T53 800m and silver in the men’s T53 400m.