Andrew Edmondson

Started: He was introduced to wheelchair rugby during his rehabilitation, and first tried the sport in 2004 at an Australian Paralympic Committee [APC] Come and Try day. He began competing in 2005. (dailytelegraph.com.au, 18 Feb 2016; paralympic.org.au, 2014) Reason: He was taken to a wheelchair basketball game during his rehabilitation and was encouraged to try the sport. "They [the rehab staff] took me out to see a game and some of the players asked if I wanted to have a go. At this stage I could only push a chair about 20 metres but they chucked me in a rugby chair, put some gloves on my hands and said, 'Off you go'. I was pushing really slowly and wasn't sure what I was doing. Then I looked up, saw one of the guys I'd been in rehab with come roaring over in his rugby chair and smash into me. It was probably the first time in eight months that I'd smiled. It felt great." (athletesvoice.com.au, 20 May 2019; dailytelegraph.com.au, 18 Feb 2016) Awards: He was named Best Mid-Point Player of the 2023 Wheelchair Rugby National League in Australia. (wheelchairrugby.com.au, 24 Apr 2023) In 2017 he received the Medal of the Order of Australia [OAM]. (dailytelegraph.com.au, 31 Jan 2017)