Ben Fawcett
2016 Australian Paralympic team portrait
Personal information
Full nameBenjamin John Fawcett
Nationality Australia
Born (1990-12-31) 31 December 1990 (age 33)
Sport
Disability class0.5
ClubVictoria Protect Lightning
Medal record
Wheelchair rugby
Representing  Australia
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio Mixed
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2018 Sydney Mixed
Gold medal – first place 2022 Vejle Mixed

Benjamin John Fawcett OAM (born 31 December 1990) is an Australian wheelchair rugby player and member of the national wheelchair rugby team. He won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics as a member of the Australian Steelers and also went to the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[1][2]

Personal

Fawcett was born on December 31, 1990.[3] At the age of 18, a snowboard accident in New Zealand led to him becoming a quadriplegic.[3] He lives in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria.[4]

Wheelchair rugby

Whilst undertaking rehabilitation in Australia, he was introduced to wheelchair rugby.[3] He was named Australian Rookie of the Year in 2012 and made his international debut for Australian Steelers in 2013 at the tri-series between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.[5]

He was a member of the team that retained its gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics after defeating the United States 59–58 in the final.[6] He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2017.[7]

At the 2018 IWRF World Championship in Sydney, Australia, he was a member of the Australian team that won the silver medal after being defeated by Japan 61–62 in the gold medal game.[8]

At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, the Steelers finished fourth after being defeated by Japan 52–60 in the bronze medal game. COVID travel restrictions led to Steelers not having a team training since March 2020 prior to Tokyo.[9]

Fawcett won his first world championship gold medal at the 2022 IWRF World Championship in Vejle, Denmark, when Australia defeated the United States . [10]

References

  1. ^ "Steelers aim to maintain their reign in Rio". Australian Paralympic Committee News. 25 July 2016. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Steelers Eyeing Paralympic History… Again". Paralympics Australia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Ben Fawcett". Australian Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  4. ^ Michell, Laura (31 July 2018). "Bacchus Marsh's Ben Fawcett to represent Australia at Wheelchair Rugby Championships". Star Weekly. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Ben Fawcett". Australian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  6. ^ Lees, Chris (19 September 2016). "Steelers double up with Paralympics gold". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  7. ^ "OAM Final Media Notes (F-L)" (PDF). Governor General of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  8. ^ "Results". IWRF Wheelchaair Rugby World Championships website. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Australia names wheelchair rugby team of 12 for Tokyo 2020". Inside The Games. 31 July 2021. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Australian Steelers Are World Wheelchair Rugby Champions". Paralympics Australia. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.

External links

2016 Australian Paralympic Team
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