Name Jessica Matassa | ||
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Paralympian Jessica Matassa
Jessica Matassa (born June 6, 1986) is a paralympic athlete from Canada competing mainly in category T54 sprint events. She was born in Windsor, Ontario.
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Athletics
Jessica has twice competed in the 200m, 400m and 800m at the Summer Paralympics, firstly in 2004 where she won a bronze medal in the T54 800m and then again in 2008.
Matassa underwent numerous surgeries in 2006 that prevented her from competing in 2006. She was not expected to compete again. However, after months of rehabilitation she was given the all clear to compete in 2007 and qualified for the 2007 Para Panamerican games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She won gold in all three of her events: 200m, 400m and 800m.
Matassa competed as part of Team Canada at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. Placing 5th in the 200m followed by 7th in the 400m.
In 2009, Matassa competed in the Boston Marathon placing 5th overall.
Since 2009, Matassa has retired from racing.
Ice sledge hockey
For the 2015-16 season, Matassa was named to the roster of the Canada women's national ice sledge hockey team. Of note, her club team is the Windsor-Essex Ice Bullets. She is one of four women that comprise the roster of both men and women. Ashley Goure, Genna Norton, a former member of the national team and Heather Stewart consist of the other female players that Matassa has played with.