Liesl Tesch is a legend, says Basketball NSW
Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch will be "elevated to Legend status" by Basketball NSW at its Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday, November 25, in Wollongong.
In a statement announcing the recognition, Basketball NSW chief executive Ms Maria Nordstrom said: "Overcoming a tragic mountain bike accident in 1988, thanks to her trademark courage and tenacity, Liesl turned into one of the best wheelchair basketball players this state has ever produced, and did so in short order.
"In just two years, she was named to the New South Wales team and then the national team in 1990, playing in that year's World Championships and following that up with the first of an astounding five Paralympic appearances at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
"She was the vice-captain of the Australian team at Sydney 2000, the captain in 2004 and would go on to win three Paralympic medals, including gold in London in 2012.
"Such was her remarkable talent and will to win, she caught the eye of several professional men's teams in Europe and would play five years on the continent, becoming the first woman in the world to play wheelchair basketball professionally.
"Off the court, she established the first women's wheelchair basketball league in Europe and played in Italy and France.
"A member of the Order of Australia and an individual whose devotion to and promotion of her sport are unparalleled, the elevation of Leisl Tesch to Legend status in the Basketball NSW Hall of Fame is an easy decision."
SOURCE:
Social media, 31 Oct 2023
Maria Nordstrom, Basketball NSW