Chris Bond

Started: He began competing in 2010. (paralympic.org.au, 15 Dec 2011) Reason: During his rehabilitation he trained as a Para swimmer at the Australian Institute of Sport [AIS] but he found the sport did not motivate him enough. He wanted to return to team sport and began playing wheelchair rugby after meeting Australian national team coach Brad Dubberley. "Swimming wasn't really my thing but the privilege of training at the AIS kept me working hard. Then one day the wheelchair rugby coach invited me to attend a camp. I grew up playing rugby league and loved the thought of chairs smashing together. After that first crash of metal, I was hooked. After learning the game and getting up to speed with the rules I found it had all the elements of a great sport - the tactics and strategy of chess with the crash and smash of footy." (paralympic.org, 30 Apr 2012) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (paralympic.org.au, 08 Feb 2024) Awards: He was named Elite Athlete of the Year for 2022 at the Sunshine Coast Sports Awards in Australia. (Sunshine Coast Sports Facebook page, 28 Apr 2023) He was named the 2016 Senior Male Athlete of the Year by the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association in Australia. He shared the award with wheelchair rugby player Ryan Scott. (sportingwheelies.org.au, 2016) In 2014 he received the Medal of the Order of Australia [OAM]. (dailytelegraph.com.au, 26 Jan 2014) He was named Most Trusted Player and one of the All-Star Four at the 2013 Australian National Championships. (foxsportspulse.com, 2013) He was named the 2012 Most Valuable Player of the Year by the Australian National Wheelchair Rugby League [NWRL]. (foxsportspulse.com, 2013) He was named the 2011 Most Improved Player of the Year by the NWRL. (sportingpulse.com, 08 Apr 2011) Additional Info: LEADER He began serving as captain of the Australian wheelchair rugby team prior to the 2022 World Championship in Vejle, Denmark. "The captaincy of Australia is a massive achievement and honour for my family and me. We've had some great leaders in Australia so there's some big shoes to fill. We want to get back into that ruthless, hungry mindset, and the team thought I'd be a good person to drive that." (paralympic.org.au, 08 Feb 2024; worldwheelchair.rugby, 07 Oct 2022) OTHER ROLES He has worked as a fundraising manager for the Australian Sports Foundation and has been a board member of Disability Sports Australia. In 2019 he became one of the inaugural members of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's [ASADA] Athletes Advisory Group [AAG]. "I wanted there to be a representative of Paralympic athletes when it comes to sport integrity. I believe Paralympic athletes have unique issues which need to be addressed and I want to make sure our voice is heard. I want to make a real difference." (sunshinecoastnews.com.au, 20 Aug 2021; insidethegames.biz, 02 Sep 2020; asada.gov.au, 06 May 2019) COINED In July 2020 he featured on a new range of coins released by the Royal Australian Mint to commemorate the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He has served as an ambassador for the Mint and appeared on the one AUD coin. (insidethegames.biz, 11 Jul 2020)

Sporting Relatives: His partner Bridie Kean has represented Australia in wheelchair basketball and won medals at the Paralympic Games in 2008 [bronze] and 2012 [silver]. (Facebook profile, 14 May 2023; SportsDeskOnline, 07 Sep 2012)