Gavin Walker

Started: He began playing wheelchair rugby in 2011 at the Marauders club in Sheffield, England. (gbwr.org.uk, 2015) Reason: While undergoing rehabilitation at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England, he was introduced to the sport by Sarah Leighton, a Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby [GBWR] classifier and physiotherapist. "I'd never played rugby before my injury and was more into individual sports such as cycling and running. But having been a firefighter I loved the team environment and rugby fulfilled the part of the job that I used to do before my injury, an aspect I missed." (thestar.co.uk, 22 Jun 2016; gbwr.org.uk, 2015) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (ruck.co.uk, 21 Dec 2023) Awards: He was named Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in the 2022 New Year Honours list. (gov.uk, 01 Jun 2022; skysports.com, 01 Jan 2022) He was named Best 2.0 Class Player at the 2016 Canada Cup in Richmond, British Columbia, and of the 2015/16 British Super Series Division One. (iwrf.com, 26 Jun 2016; gbwr.org.uk, 2016) Additional Info: FIREFIGHTER MENTALITY He worked as a firefighter before sustaining his impairment in 2010, and he believes that his previous occupation instilled qualities in him that are relevant to wheelchair rugby. "There's a side to the fire service, which instils discipline into thinking. Back then, at the start of each shift, for example, you'd go through all the equipment on the fire appliance and make sure that it's all been tested, it's all in good working order. There's elements like that, for me directly, that relate to my role as an athlete as well. You have to be quite diligent, you have to make sure that you're doing everything that's been asked of you to a higher standard, and hold yourself accountable. My role now as [Great Britain] captain, it's my job to maintain those standards and be a role model for others to follow as well. So, I do feel like a lot of those qualities expected of me as a firefighter, have really crossed over into this career." (ruck.co.uk, 21 Dec 2023) PARIS CAPTAIN He was named as captain of the Great Britain wheelchair rugby team for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Previously, he served as co-captain with Chris Ryan for the 2020 Games in Tokyo. (uk.sports.yahoo.com, 24 Jun 2024; aol.co.uk, 24 Jun 2024; bbc.co.uk, 03 May 2023; olympics.com, 27 Aug 2021) OCCUPATION He has worked for the Spinal Injuries Association [SIA] in Great Britain, supporting people who have sustained spinal cord injuries. (gbwr.org.uk, 01 Jan 2023; leicestertigers.com, 01 Jan 2023)