CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Amy (Kneebone) Burk and her goalball teammates are going to Parapan Am Games in Lima, Peru, looking for a berth in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
The 29-year-old Charlottetown native, who is currently living in Ottawa, was named to Canada’s six-member goalball team on Tuesday for the Aug. 23-Sept. 1 championship.
“I'm really excited to get to Lima and not only be a part of the goalball team but also to be a member of Team Canada,” Burk said. “The (Canadian Paralympic Committee) does a great job of supporting all of its athletes and bringing everyone together to be a part of one giant Team Canada family, and there are always lots of great memories that come from events like these.
“It's a huge honour to get to represent Canada and wear the Maple Leaf. Our goal is to get this team qualified for Tokyo.”
Canada will compete in women’s round-robin action alongside Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, Mexico and USA, with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals. Canada must finish second behind Brazil or better to earn their Tokyo ticket.
Burk has been a member of the national goalball team since 2005. She has represented Canada at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games, finishing fifth twice and sixth once, and won the world championship in 2006 and 2011.
Goalball is played by visually impaired athletes. All players wear eyeshades, regardless of the degree of their visual impairment, to ensure everyone cannot see anything.
Played in teams of three, the aim of the sport is to score by throwing a ball into the opponent’s net. The players use their hearing to track the ball, which has a bell inside it, and orient themselves on the court by feeling for the tactile lines.
Related link:
• Burk's profile page on Canadian Paralympic Committee website.
