Wheelchair Basketball Group mourns passing of Armand “Tip” Thiboutot – IWBF

The world of wheelchair basketball is mourning the lack of a legend and pioneer of the game, Armand “Tip” Thiboutot, who handed away yesterday on the age of 85 years previous.

IWBF Gold Medal Triad Awardee, Armand “Tip” Thiboutot, PhD (pictured above on the suitable) was the Vice-President of the Worldwide Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) between 1998 – 2002, following his six-year tenure as Chairman of the Technical Fee for IWBF (1992 till 1998).

Tip was launched to wheelchair basketball within the mid-Sixties after incurring a spinal wire damage whereas serving in the US Military. He began his enjoying profession with the New England Clippers in 1968 and based the Boston Mustangs in 1972. Internationally, Tip was coach of the USA males’s crew on the 1984 Stoke Mandeville Paralympic Video games and led them to gold on the 1988 Seoul Paralympic Video games.

Along with enjoying and training for greater than 40 years, Tip was the Vice-President of NWBA for 15 years and was inducted into the NWBA Corridor of Fame in 1993, while additionally influential within the improvement of wheelchair basketball each in the US in addition to the remainder of the world from the late Seventies proper up till his retirement in 2002. In recognition of his dedication to the game, Tip acquired the IWBF Gold Medal Triad Award in 2002.

IWBF President, Ulf Mehrens, stated,

“IWBF is deeply saddened to listen to of Tip’s passing. We are going to at all times keep in mind him for the fervour, influence and affect he had on the game. He was one of many early leaders and pioneers for our sport and set the foundations. A terrific advocate and promoter of the sport of wheelchair basketball, we’ve little doubt his data might be handed on and stay via his legacy within the sport for years to return.

“Our ideas and honest condolences exit to all of Tip’s household and buddies at this tough time. He might be actually missed by the entire wheelchair basketball neighborhood.”

Tip prolonged his affect with the publication of his writings in Sports activities ‘N’ Spokes and the IWBF’s Basketball Information – each had been extensively learn by the wheelchair sports activities neighborhood internationally. He was additionally accountable for enhancing the IWBF e-newsletter, publishing articles and issuing stories on technical issues coping with teaching, participant classification, guidelines, and group of the game.

Alongside Stan Labanowich, he additionally co-wrote the “Wheelchairs Can Leap” ebook, an interesting and complete information to the historical past of wheelchair basketball.

From left to proper – Sir Philip Craven, Horst Strohkendl, Armand “Tip” Thiboutot

IWBF’s first-ever president and shut good friend to Tip Thiboutot, Sir Philip Craven MBE, added:

“Tip Thiboutot – an absolute legend of the good sport of wheelchair basketball. Paul Bowes this morning (Monday 17 October) used some sensible adjectives that completely described Tip, of being calm, I might add tremendous educated, understanding, passionate and a caring man. All of that’s so true however I can add one other facet of Tip, which is the grit and dedication he possessed for doing the suitable factor. I do know this as a result of I used to be within the trenches on many events with my greatest, truest and most trusted good friend.

“Tip does certainly go away an impressive legacy of doing the suitable factor in any respect prices for the sake of the game of wheelchair basketball and all of the gamers that love this glorious recreation. Positions within the trenches sadly nonetheless need to be occupied however I’m certain we’ll see present and new replacements for Tip within the trenches however to switch Tip as an entire is not possible.

“I wish to ship a really private message to Patricia and daughter Anna and Michelle, simply to say what a beautiful husband and father you all had, however you might be nice folks in your personal proper, and you’ve got the heritage and I’ve little doubt you’ll signify him. Jocelyne and I really like Tip Thiboutot with all our hearts and that’s the way it will stay.”

Relaxation in Peace Tip!