Jolan
“There’s being a woman, and there’s being a woman with a disability. I have often felt that I need to prove myself in this world, yet this empowers me. It empowers me to be the inspiration that little girls need. They need strong women to show them that they too can achieve great things regardless of their gender or appearance. Being a woman is empowering.”
Jolan is a woman of many accomplishments who holds a diverse range of titles; she is a mother, educator, business owner, and cancer survivor, as well as a Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympian. As a member of Canada’s Women’s Sitting Volleyball team, she is providing visibility and inspiration to young athletes and members of the disabled community, both at the local level and on the world stage. Her determination, work ethic, and optimistic outlook have helped her overcome any limitations she has come to face, allowing her to continually set the bar higher in her Paralympic pursuits. Having been met with instances of immense adversity in her life, from moving far away from loved ones to undergoing the amputation of her leg at the age of 13, she proves that one’s success lies in the strength of their mentality. Meet Jolan. This is her story.
Photo by Art by Agata
K: Please introduce yourself!
J: Hello! I’m Jolan Wong and I’m a Paralympian (Team Canada Women’s Sitting Volleyball), a mom, a business owner (Two Hawks Brewing Co.), a wife, and a home educator to my 2 beautiful children.
I currently live in Pembroke, Ontario- just outside of Ottawa, but I’m a true Albertan- born and raised!
When I’m not training, momming, educating and building our business, I LOVE to explore new places, be close to the water, chase sunsets and find new coffee shops.
Photo by World Paravolley
K: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
J: Strong, courageous, tenacious. I live by the motto: find a way or make one.
K: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
J: My favourite thing about myself is my ability to be me. It sounds so simple, but living in a society where we are constantly judging humans based on appearance, it can be a difficult task when you have a visible disability. I haven’t always been able to confidently walk around in shorts showing off my prosthetic and willing to share my story.
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
J: When most people hear my story- being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 12 and having my right leg amputated at the age of 13 as a result, they assume that’s the toughest thing I’ve ever encountered. But that’s not the case. The life event that has made me strong is moving across the country for my husband’s job. Moving away from my network of friends, family and my training facility for volleyball is by far the toughest thing I’ve done. It’s been 8 years since the move and it has most definitely made me resilient, strong, and resourceful, but I still long for the familiarity of “home”.
K: What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
J: You aren’t defined by societal norms. People are different, people are unique. Why strive so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out. I have my husband and children to thank for this. My husband was more comfortable with my body than I was for a very long time, he didn’t see my prosthetic, he saw me as a person. I wanted to show my kids that their bodies are incredible, they are strong, they give you life and the ability to run, jump and play. I wanted to be a role model to them, showing them that physical appearance does not deter what you can accomplish in life — attitude does.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
J: There’s being a woman, and there’s being a woman with a disability. I have often felt that I need to prove myself in this world, yet this empowers me. It empowers me to be the inspiration that little girls need. They need strong women to show them that they too can achieve great things regardless of their gender or appearance. Being a woman is empowering.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
J: I have to pick just 1?
My Aunty Judy - She is in her 70’s and is by far the most active person I know! She genuinely knows what makes her happy and does it — sea kayaking, mountain biking, competing in masters biathlon, she’s seriously just incredible. She is a retired lawyer and mom of 3 to boot.
My coach, Nicole Ban — You know when you have that 1 human that can change your life? She’s the one. She has literally put her heart and soul into developing the Canadian Women’s Sitting Volleyball program which I’m honoured to be a part of. Her push for equality in parasport is so incredibly inspiring and drives me to demand more equality too! She has shaped the culture of our team which in turn has shaped all of us athletes into better humans and for that I am eternally grateful.