|
Widely recognized as one of the best players in the country, Trooper Johnson is the only player in the country to have been selected to the last 15 U.S. National Wheelchair Basketball teams. Included in this impressive accomplishment is helping the 2000 U.S. National Wheelchair Basketball team to win the Bronze during the Paralympic Games and the 1998 U.S. Team the Gold during the 1998 World Championship Games in Sydney, Australia. Johnson holds eight additional Gold medals, one Silver medal, and one Bronze medal from international competition since his first U.S. National team appearance in England in 1990.
Johnson is captain of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Golden State Road Warriors and the 2000-2001 National Champions. The team has been in the NWBA's top 10 in the country for the past 16 years. Like Jerry West of the NBA and Sheryl Swoops of the WNBA, Johnson's silhouette is used for the NWBA logo.
During July 2000, Johnson made his second ascent of El Capitan, the largest shear face of granite in the world. Johnson became the first paraplegic to climb the 3,000 foot rock in a single push, raching the summit in a record 38.5 hours. This event was used as a fundraiser to renovate the Brain and Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Units of a local hospital.
Disabled in an automobile accident at the age of 17, Johnson has been actively involved in wheelchair athletics for the past eleven years. He is the Director of Wheelchair Sports for the VMC Foundation in San Jose, CA. Johnson conducts motivational and disability awareness/prevention programs in schools throughout the country. He has reached more than 285,000 students during the last nine years. He has also made a presentation to and played ball with former Vice President Gore.
In September 1997, Johnson received a commendation from the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, a committee chaired by Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 1995, the American Cancer Society/Santa Clara Chapter named Johnson "Celebrity of the Year." In May 1993, Johnson received the "Celebration of Courage, Adult of the Year" award from the Timpany Center in San Jose, CA, for his sports accomplishments and work in the community.
|
