The absolute weapons who make up the Aussie wheelchair rugby team have brought it home at the Paralympics in Rio, smashing the USA in double overtime in a 59-58 nail-biter to take home the gold.
This is a back-to-back victory for the Steelers, who also won in London in 2012. We join the US as the only two-time winners since the sport – affectionately known as ‘murderball’ – was introduced to the Paralympics in 2000. “We knew it was never going to be the same as London,” captain Ryan Scott said.
“In London we won every quarter of every game. But over the last couple of years teams have caught up to us and it was never going to be like that again.”
“There was always an asterisk over us because we avoided the US in London, but we wanted this. We wanted to beat them and show everyone that we can do it.”
Ryley Batt and Chris Bond combined scored a monster 48 of Australia’s 59 goals. “That’s experience, that’s fitness that has come in right there,” Batt said. “That’s coaching, all the work we’ve done, all the support, all those one percenters.”
This gold is the last one awarded at the Paralympics, bringing our gold total to 22. This lands us at number 5 on the tally. Solid effort, folks.
Source: The Advertiser.
Photo: Getty Images.
