From Recreational Tryout to Paralympic Contender: Collinda Joseph's Journey
Collinda Joseph first attempted wheelchair curling almost by chance at Ottawa's RA Centre back in 2006. What began as a casual experiment has transformed into a two-decade athletic career that will culminate with her representing Team Canada as the starting lead at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milano-Cortina, where she will pursue the ultimate prize of Paralympic gold.
Strategic Mastery on Ice
For Joseph, wheelchair curling represents chess on ice, a sport demanding intense concentration and precise strategic planning. She describes her approach as meticulously plotting shot strength and optimal delivery lines while blocking out all distractions except the sheet of ice before her. However, competing at the Paralympic level brings its own psychological challenges.
"Sometimes I just go, 'Holy s—t!'" Joseph admits with a laugh. "But really, I try to continually repeat to myself, 'You're here, you deserve to be here, you're good enough to be here. Just go out and do what you do, and then we'll deal with the consequences of misses.'"
Proven Competitive Pedigree
Joseph brings substantial championship experience to her Paralympic role:
- Bronze medal at the 2019 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship
- Silver medal at the 2020 World Wheelchair Curling Championships
- Bronze medal at the 2025 World Wheelchair Curling Championships
- Bronze medal at the 2023 Mixed Doubles World Championship
She previously served as Team Canada's alternate at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics, where she played in one of the team's games as Canada secured bronze, maintaining the nation's unique distinction as the only country to medal in every Paralympic wheelchair curling competition since the sport's 2006 introduction.
"The opportunity to go to Beijing and win a medal was phenomenal and amazing," Joseph reflects. "After that, I just sensed that I want to be on the ice when we win a medal. I'm an incredibly competitive person, so that has driven me to find a way to get better."
Leading from the Front
As Canada's starting lead in Milano-Cortina, Joseph will throw the game's opening stones, a position requiring particular skill according to Team Canada head coach Mick Lizmore. "Throwing the game's first few rocks is like throwing into unknown conditions," Lizmore explains. "The pieces never go over quite where you want them to." However, he notes that Joseph has developed exceptional proficiency in crucial details like rock placements and line deliveries.
Team Dynamics and Preparation
With team members dispersed across Canada, the wheelchair curling squad convenes at least monthly for centralized training sessions. Between these gatherings, Joseph maintains her competitive edge through work with both a personal trainer and a mental performance coach.
Team Canada skip Mark Ideson, who has competed alongside Joseph at multiple world championships and the Beijing Games, describes her as both intimidatingly skilled and personally approachable. "I remember being intimidated by her because she is so experienced and really good at wheelchair curling," Ideson recalls. "But she has a soft side and a sense of humour as well."
Ideson employs an aquatic analogy to characterize Joseph's competitive demeanor: "I would use the picture of a duck where on top of the water she's super calm, and under the water, the legs are moving really fast." He quickly clarifies that this comparison reflects her composed exterior masking intense preparation rather than any avian characteristics.
From that initial recreational attempt twenty years ago to her current position as a Paralympic team leader, Collinda Joseph's journey exemplifies dedication, strategic brilliance, and the transformative power of adaptive sports.
