Rio Kanda Kovac

Biography

Rio is one of the youngest National Team members to dawn the red and white. Rio’s first introduction to Wheelchair rugby was at the 2015 Toronto Para-Pan Am Games at just 12 years old. Rio was born with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder that causes motor and sensory neuropathy. As a child, Rio always dreamt of competing in the Paralympics, and purchased his first wheelchair rugby chair at 14 years old.

Rio first competed in Chiba, Japan; however, he did not see himself playing for Team Japan. In September of 2018, Rio was invited by Assistant Coach Dave Willsie to train with Team Canada in Misawa, Japan, and has not looked back. Rio has since moved back to Toronto and is a fixture on the national team.

Rio was a member of Canada’s silver medal winning team at the 2023 Parapan American Games, and in 2024 Rio made his Paralympic debut at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Off the court, Rio helped with the rebranded World Wheelchair Rugby (WWR) with their debut trailer in 2021.