The Alabama women’s wheelchair basketball team fell short of winning their fourth title in five years earlier this month, but Annika Zeyen said she is still happy with the outcome.

“We worked hard and did everything we could,” said Zeyen, a senior majoring in advertising from Hennef, Germany. “We came together and worked hard. I’m proud of everything.”

Zeyen has been with the Alabama wheelchair basketball team for four years, winning three national championships with the team. She said she was introduced to wheelchair basketball during rehabilitation after an injury.

“In 1999, I did a lot of horseback riding and was looking for a horse to buy. The horse I was riding was wild and crazy and threw me off. I fell on my back and broke my spine,” Zeyen said.

Zeyen has been playing wheelchair basketball ever since. She is a member of the German national wheelchair basketball team and has competed at the Paralympics in Beijing, China, and London, England. She and her teammates won gold during the 2012 Paralympics in London, England.

“It was amazing, a dream come true. We worked for so, so many years,” Zeyen said. “At Worlds two years before, we lost in the gold medal game by 2 points.”

She was recruited while playing for the German national team by the head coach at the time, Brent Hardin. The German team traveled to Birmingham, Ala., for a game, when Zeyen was invited to the campus where she fell in love.

“I really liked the campus and the basketball team. There were other international players and it was a strong team that I could better myself by playing with them,” Zeyen said.

Being so far away from her family hasn’t been easy for Zeyen, but she said they make it work.

“It has been tough. I wish I could see them more often. My parents are important to me,” Zeyen said. “When I had my accident, they said we have to make the best of it and make it work. They supported me in everything-driving me to practices and games.”

Zeyen said she is excited for her parents to come to her graduation in May.

“I’m happy with my life. I’ve had a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” she said. “It’s not always easy or great, but I’m happy.”

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