Canterbury Alumni Patrick Ryan – Wheelchair Rugby Paralympian
With the 2020 Paralympics starting tonight with the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo…
Canterbury Alumni Patrick Ryan was part of the Australian Steelers Wheelchair Rugby Team and represented Australia at the Paralympics and World Wheelchair Rugby Championships.
He attended Canterbury College from 1994 – 1996.
Wheelchair Rugby made its debut as an official Paralympic sport at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games.
Patrick was part of the team that won the silver medal, losing to then World Champions the United States by one point.
He also competed in the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games and 2002 and 2006 World Championships held in Gothenburg (Sweden) and Christchurch (New Zealand) respectively.
The Australian Steelers won the bronze medal at the 2002 World Championships.
Wheelchair Rugby is an intense, contact team sport played on a basketball-sized court.
The game combines elements of basketball, soccer and ice hockey and is played in eight-minute quarters.
Four players from each team compete on court at any one time.
A volleyball is used and it can be carried, dribbled or passed in any way except kicking.
The ball must also be bounced every 10 seconds.
Good luck to all our Aussie Paralympians over the next fortnight! 🦘