Local veteran eyes podium as Team Canada opens tournament Aug. 17
Peterborough athlete Cody Caldwell will be among the Canadians competing at the 2026 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships in São Paulo, Brazil, starting Aug. 17, carrying both personal determination and local expectations for Team Canada to finally reach the podium.
Caldwell’s path from playing triple-A hockey and soccer in Peterborough to international wheelchair rugby is shaped by a life-changing 2008 diving accident that left him a quadriplegic. He first joined the national program in 2013 and was part of the squad that captured gold at the Toronto Parapan American Games in 2015. Caldwell then made his Paralympic debut in 2016, when Canada finished fourth, and was a member of the teams at the 2020 and 2024 Paralympic Games — both campaigns that also ended without medals.
Those results have sharpened a clear objective for the Canadian roster headed to Brazil.
"Putting on the Team Canada jersey never gets old,"
That sentiment, expressed by Caldwell, underscores the veteran leadership he brings to a team blending established players and newer talent. The tournament format will be demanding: Canada has been drawn into Pool A and will face some of the sport’s traditional powers in preliminary play.
- Pool A opposition: Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United States, and host nation Brazil.
- Tournament start: Aug. 17 with preliminary rounds through Aug. 20.
- Medal matches: scheduled for Aug. 23 and will be streamed via World Wheelchair Rugby’s YouTube channel.
For Peterborough’s para-sport community, Caldwell’s presence on the squad is both inspiration and a reminder of the ambitions that exist at the local level. His career highlights — national selection in 2013 and Parapan gold in 2015 — reflect the long arc of development that athletes from small and mid-sized Ontario centres often follow to reach international competition.
| Key dates | Action |
|---|---|
| Aug. 17–20 | Preliminary pool play |
| Aug. 23 | Medal matches |
Team Canada’s opening match is against Australia on Aug. 17. All matches, including the medal rounds on Aug. 23, will be available to stream on the World Wheelchair Rugby YouTube channel, providing an opportunity for friends, family and supporters in Peterborough to follow Caldwell and his teammates as the tournament unfolds.
Locally, Caldwell’s journey resonates beyond elite sport. It highlights the importance of accessible community programs, adaptive-sport opportunities and the coaching and volunteer networks that help athletes transition from local competition to national teams. While details about how Peterborough clubs or facilities directly supported Caldwell’s move to wheelchair rugby were not outlined in the material provided, his roots in the city and rise through the national ranks add to a growing narrative of post-injury athletic achievement coming out of smaller Ontario centres.
At the international level, Canada faces a challenging pool. Australia and the United States have been consistent medal contenders, while the Netherlands and New Zealand have shown rapid improvement in recent years. Brazil, as host, will also be motivated and difficult to face on home court.
For Caldwell and his teammates, the target is straightforward: convert the experience and near-misses of past Paralympic cycles into a podium result at the world championships. If the past decade is any indication, the Canadian squad will combine veteran leadership with fresh energy — and will rely on tight defence, disciplined offence and strong team cohesion to crack the medal positions.
Supporters in Peterborough can tune in to the World Wheelchair Rugby broadcasts to follow Caldwell’s campaign. A successful tournament would mark a milestone for both the athlete and the city that helped shape his sporting beginnings.
