Chuck Aoki

Started: He began playing wheelchair rugby in 2007. (usawheelchairrugby.com, 25 Dec 2011) Reason: He initially played wheelchair basketball but was inspired to switch sports after watching the documentary 'Murderball', which focuses on the rivalry between the US and Canadian wheelchair rugby teams ahead of the 2004 Paralympic Games. "Wheelchair rugby is physical, it's hard-hitting, it's intense, and it's passionate. It's the most exciting Paralympic sport out there." (northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com, 08 Nov 2019; teamusa.org, 26 Aug 2018) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (paralympic.org, 14 Aug 2024) Awards: He and triathlete Melissa Stockwell were flag bearers for the United States of America at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (teamusa.com, 22 Aug 2021) He was named Most Valuable Player [MVP] at the 2016 Canada Cup in Richmond, BC, Canada. (iwrf.com, 26 Jun 2016) He was named the Best 3.0 Class Player at the 2014 World Championships in Odense, Denmark. (teamusa.org, 2014) He was named the 2011 Athlete of the Year by the United States Quad Rugby Association [USQRA]. (couragecenter.org, 2011) Additional Info: OTHER ACTIVITIES In 2021 he was appointed to the leadership team for the Team USA Athletes' Commission. He had previously served as a representative on the Team USA Athletes' Commission since 2017. He has also written articles and blogs for the International Paralympic Committee [IPC]. "Writing articles about my experiences as a Paralympic athlete and issues in sports for persons with a disability. [I have] written for The Paralympian magazine as well, a publication of the IPC." (LinkedIn profile, 30 Jan 2024; usopc.org, 01 Jan 2024) OCCUPATION In April 2022 he began working as a community access navigator for the adaptive sports and fitness department at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America. (LinkedIn profile, 30 Jan 2024; usawr.org, 01 Jan 2023) DOCUMENTARY He was one of three wheelchair rugby players featured in the 2023 documentary 'Hit Hard'. The film followed Aoki, French player Cedric Nankin, and Australia's Chris Bond at the 2023 International Cup in Paris, France. (broadcastnow.co.uk, 20 Dec 2023; world.rugby, 20 Dec 2023) FURTHER EDUCATION He has studied for a master's degree in public policy at the University of Minnesota in the United States of America. He has also spent time studying for a PhD in comparative politics and international relations at the University of Denver. (LinkedIn profile, 30 Jan 2024; twincities.com, 02 Sep 2016)