"My passion lies in sport. I've always found an outlet for my energy and for the last decade that has been wheelchair basketball."
Shortly after his amputation, Nik was participating in his regular gym class when it coincided with a wheelchair basketball demonstration. "The coach approached me about trying out the wheelchairs, asked about my story and whether I would be interested in trying it out for real. I was a bit reluctant at first. However, I can confidently say that I can count on one hand the number of Thursdays that I've missed since then- I immediately fell in love with the sport".
"My passion lies in sport. I've always found an outlet for my energy and for the last decade that has been wheelchair basketball. My teammates are my brothers. We are there for each other - on the court and off."
With more tournaments upcoming, Nikola has many more challenges ahead of him: "The sport has opened many doors in my life. It's put me through university and other countless opportunities. It's given me direction in my life when there wasn't any. It's shaped my life and bestowed the honour upon me of wearing a maple leaf on my chest - something few others ever get to experience in their life. I am extremely grateful for everything basketball has done for me, on and off the court. Its funny how life works, for every door that closes three others open in its wake".
Nikola Goncin's story began when his parents immigrated to Canada in 1994 as refugees from Yugoslavia. "My family and I started in Canada with practically nothing. I had a great childhood though and I have to thank my parents for that. I hope that I'm never in the same situation as my parents were, running away from a war-torn country, but If I have even a quarter of the ambition and passion of my father then I would check that off as a success". It was at the age of 15 when Nikola was diagnosed with bone cancer. "I was an able-bodied basketball player at the time and after a hard-jump spot, I had to sit out due to an exceptional pain I was experiencing in my leg". The seriousness of his condition escalated fast and towards the end of the year, Nikola needed to have his leg amputated.
Wałbrzych President Cup Tournament in Poland
3rd place
Lima 2019 Parapan American Games
2nd place
World Wheelchair Basketball Championships
12th place
Mitsubishi Electric World Challenge Cup in Tokyo
Americas Cup in Cali Colombia
Paralympic Games (Rio)
11th place
Parapan American Games (Toronto)
Silver Medal
World Championships
Under 23 - 6th Place
Under 23 - 8th Place