Rebelo puts retirement on delay for Toronto 2015

“It will all count on the last game of the round robin, whether it is the semi-finals or the finals, there will be one game that we will need to beat the US. There will be one game that will count for everything, for the whole year.”

When the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games were announced, Jose Rebelo knew he had to postpone retirement. The Canadian sitting volleyball star did not want to miss playing in front of a home crowd.

A father of three – Eve, Hugo and Maelle – Toronto 2015 will be the first time Rebelo’s children will see him play in a major event.

“It is having my family here, my kids are now old enough to understand what is going on, and its close enough for them to come,” he said. “They will be able to see me in a major competition, maybe for the last time.”

That is, if Canada do not qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Rebelo has been competing for Canada since 1996, starting as part of the Canadian standing volleyball team. But when standing volleyball left the Paralympic programme in 2000, Rebelo moved to sitting volleyball. His experience in the sport will go a long way as Team Canada prepares for Toronto 2015, where teams can qualify for berths to Rio 2016.

“I am always talking on the court, trying to keep the atmosphere, focusing team members,” Rebelo said. “I am trying to always be around the guys and make them feel comfortable enough, to be a positive support.”

Brazil was the lone team from the Americas region that competed in London 2012. But to Rebelo, they are not Canada’s biggest opponent.

“Brazil has already qualified (as the host nation), so we do not need to beat them,” Rebelo added. “The next team is the US. We have known each other for a long time and we compete against each other regularly. We seem to take turns in winning.

“It will all count on the last game of the round robin, whether it is the semi-finals or the finals, there will be one game that we will need to beat the US. There will be one game that will count for everything, for the whole year.”

Rebelo grew up playing a variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, hockey and soccer. With the Canadian standing volleyball team, he went to the Sydney 2000 Paralympics, which remains his greatest athletic accomplishment to date.

“We got there in eight place, we were the underdog and we finished second, won the silver medal; we showed everyone we were a great team,” Rebelo said.

When standing volleyball was removed from the programme after Sydney 2000, Rebelo gave sitting volleyball a try.

“I found I loved it,” Rebelo said. “It is a faster game, with a lot more action and reaction.

“My first sitting volleyball competition was in the Rio 2007 Parapan American Games. We did ok considering we only had six months training to try to catch up to Brazil and the US.”

The team won the bronze medal and followed up with another bronze in the Guadalajara 2011 Parapans. Now, with the Parapans at home, the Canadian men’s team hopes the crowd can push them to a Paralympic debut in the sport.

After the Parapans, Rebelo will then consider his future career, deciding whether to retire or not, based on the team’s success in August and his commitments.

“I will decide the next step with my teammates,” he said. “I have a good connection with some close teammates, if they decide to retire also that might impact my decision.”

If he does choose to retire, Rebelo hopes to give back to the sport, possibly as a coach or organiser.

For the next two months, his mind is on Toronto 2015.

“The main focus is to be mentally ready, for that one ‘must-win’ game,” Rebelo said.

Around 1,600 athletes from 28 countries and territories will be at Toronto 2015 between 7-15 August, which will feature 15 sports, all of which will be qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.