IWRF Ranking 1 (2014) Appearances 6 | Appearances 6 | |
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Medals Silver: 2000 Summer Paralympics Silver: 2008 Summer Paralympics Gold: 2012 Summer Paralympics Gold: 2016 Summer Paralympics Medals Bronze: 2002 Silver: 2010 Gold: 2014 | ||
Wheelchair rugby aus vs usa mixed gold medal rio 2016 paralympic games
Wheelchair rugby is a sport with national representation at the Paralympic games. The Australian Team is known as the 'Steelers'.
Contents
- Wheelchair rugby aus vs usa mixed gold medal rio 2016 paralympic games
- The game
- Athlete classifications
- Performances 19962012
- 1996 Atlanta
- 2000 Sydney
- 2004 Athens
- 2008 Beijing
- 2012 London
- 2016 Rio
- Performances 19952014
- 1995 Nottwil Switzerland
- 1998 Toronto Ontario Canada
- 2002 Gothenburg Sweden Canada
- 2006 Christchurch New Zealand
- 2010 Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- 2014 Odense Denmark
- Recognition
- References
Australia has competed at every Paralympics Games since the sport gained full Paralympic Medal status at the 2000 Summer Paralympics. The Steelers also competed in the 1996 Summer Paralympics where wheelchair rugby was a demonstration sport. The 'Steelers' defeated Canada at the 2012 London Games to win its first gold medal. In 2014, it won its first World Championship by defeating Canada. In winning the world championship, the Steelers became the second nation in history to hold both the Paralympic and world championship titles concurrently. The Australian Paralympic Committee currently manages the Steelers high performance program.
The sport is not included at the Special Olympics or the Deaflympics.
The game
The sport is one of the few contact sports available for wheelchair sport athletes and was originally known as "Murderball". It was developed in Canada during the 1970s and made its way to Australia in 1981.
The sport uses a volleyball for the ball and combines elements of basketball, soccer and ice hockey. The game is played on a basketball sized court. Each team has four players on the court at any one time. It has drawn large crowds at events such as the Paralympics.
Athlete classifications
Wheelchair Rugby is open to athletes with quadriplegia. Athletes competing in wheelchair rugby are classified according to their ability. Players are classified using a points system starting at 0.5 for athletes with the least ability through to 3.5 for athletes with the most ability.
A team can have four players on the court but must not exceed 8 classification points (the combined total of the player's individual classifications).
Performances 1996–2012
1996 Atlanta
Australia represented by:
Men – Brett Boylan (2.0), Garry Croker (1.0), Andrew Greenaway (1.5), Rodney Hamilton, David Jacka (0.5), Peter Lock (2.5), Steve Porter (2.5), Baden Whitehead (2.0) ; Coaches – Darryl Wingard (Head Coach)
. Wheelchair rugby was a demonstration sport at the 1996 Summer Paralympics. George Hucks was a member of the Australian team. During a practice in Atlanta prior to the start of the games, Hucks broke his kneecap. Hucks, from South Australia, was the team's best player. This was a major loss for the team. Hucks was flown home and another player was flown into Australia to replace him. Australia did not win a single match in wheelchair rugby. They lost to New Zealand 23–39, to Great Britain 33–34, to Canada 24–39, to the USA 18–31 and to Sweden 25–29.
Wheelchair rugby at the 1996 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.
2000 Sydney
Australia represented by:
Men – Bryce Alman (2.0), Brett Boylan (2.0), Cliff Clarke, Garry Croker (1.0), Brad Dubberley (3.5), Nazim Erdem (0.5), Peter Harding, George Hucks (3.0), Tom Kennedy, Craig Parsons, Steve Porter (2.5), Patrick Ryan (2.5)
Coaches – Terry Vinyard (Head Coach), Glenn Stephens and Nicholas Bailey (Assistant Coaches) Officials – Kim Elwood (Manager), David Bonavita, Wendy Poole
The team won the silver medal after losing to the World and Paralympic champions, United States by one point in the final.
Wheelchair rugby at the 2000 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.
2004 Athens
Australia represented by:
Men – Bryce Alman (2.0), Ryley Batt (3.5), Grant Boxall (2.5), Brett Boylan (2.0), Brad Dubberley (3.5), Nazim Erdem (0.5), George Hucks (3.0), George Kersnovske (2.0), Steve Porter (2.5), Patrick Ryan (2.5), Ryan Scott (0.5), Scott Vitale (1.5)
Coaches – Terry Vinyard (Head Coach), Glenn Stephens (Assistant Coach) Officials – Kim Ellwood (Manager), Robert Doidge, Maria Spiller
Australia finished 5th in the tournament.
Wheelchair rugby at the 2004 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.
2008 Beijing
Australia represented by:
Men – Bryce Alman (2.0), Ryley Batt (3.5), Grant Boxall (2.5), Shane Brand (1.5), Cameron Carr (2.0), Nazim Erdem (0.5), George Hucks (3.0), Steve Porter (2.5), Ryan Scott (0.5), Greg Smith (2.0), Scott Vitale (2.0)
Coaches – Brad Dubberley (Head Coach) Officials – Kim Ellwood (Section Manager), Rob Doidge, Noni Shelton, Angela Mansell
Three of the team made their Paralympic debut and Steve Porter attended his fourth Games. The Sttelers won the silver medal losing to the United States 53–44 in the final.
Wheelchair rugby at the 2008 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.
2012 London
Australia represented by:
Men - Nazim Erdem (0.5), Ryan Scott (0.5)(Co-captain), Jason Lees (1.0), Cameron Carr (2.0)(Co-captain), Andrew Harrison (2.0), Greg Smith (2.0), Cody Meakin (2.0), Josh Hose (3.0), Ben Newton (3.0), Ryley Batt (3.5), Chris Bond (3.5)
Coaches – Brad Dubberley (Head Coach); Officials - Paul Kiteley (Section Manager), Chevvy Cooper (Technical Support)), Angela Mansell (Personal Care Assistant),Simon Mole (Physiotherapist)
Six players made their first Paralympic Games appearance: Australia defeated Canada 66-51 to win their first Paralympics gold medal.
Wheelchair rugby at the 2012 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.
2016 Rio
Australia represented by:
Men – Ryley Batt (3.5), Chris Bond (3.5), Cameron Carr (2.0), Andrew Edmondson (2.0) (d), Nazim Erdem (0.5), Ben Fawcett (0.5) (d), Andrew Harrison (2.0), Josh Hose (3.0), Jason Lees (1.0), Matt Lewis (3.5) (d), Ryan Scott (0.5) (captain), Jayden Warn (3.0)(d)
Coaches – Brad Dubberley (Head Coach); Greg Smith (Strength and Conditioning Coach, Officials - Sam Allan (Team Leader),Nick Sanders (Video Analyst), William Roberts (Mechanic), Darren Pickering (Personal Care/Nurse), Scott Curtis (Soft Tissue Specialist)
Australia defeated the United States 59-58 in double over time in the gold medal match.
Wheelchair rugby at the 2016 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.
(d) Paralympic Games debut
Performances 1995–2014
1995 Nottwil, Switzerland
Australia represented by:
Men - ? ; Coaches -
1998 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Australia represented by:
Men - ? ; Coaches - Darryl Wingard (Head Coach), David Bonavita (Assistant Coach)
2002 Gothenburg, Sweden, Canada
Australia represented by:
Men - ? ; Coaches - Terry Vinyard (Head Coach), Glenn Stephens (Assistant Coach)
2006 Christchurch New Zealand
Australia represented by:
Men - ? ; Coaches - Evan Bennett (Head Coach)
2010 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Men – Nazim Erdem (0.5), Ryley Batt (3.5), Josh Hose (3.0), Jason Lees (1.0), Bryce Alman (2.0), Ryan Scott (0.5), Steve Porter (2.5), Cameron Carr 2.0, Andrew Harrison (2.0)
Coaches - Brad Dubberley (Head Coach)
2014 Odense , Denmark
Australia represented by:
Men Nazim Erdem (0.5), Ryley Batt (3.5), Josh Hose (3.0), Jason Ellery (2.0), Michael Ozanne (0.5), Jason Lees (1.0), Chris Bond (3.5), Ryan Scott (0.5), Curtis Palmer (2.5), Cameron Carr (2.0), Jayden Warn (3.0)
Coaches - Brad Dubberley (Head Coach), Greg Smith (Assistant Coach) ; Officials Elisha Gartner (Team Manager)