Ben Fawcett

Benjamin John Fawcett OAM (born 31 December 1990) is an Australian wheelchair rugby player and member of the national wheelchair rugby team. He won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics as a member of the Australian Steelers and also went to the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[1][2]

Ben Fawcett
2016 Australian Paralympic team portrait
Personal information
Full nameBenjamin John Fawcett
Nationality Australia
Born (1990-12-31) 31 December 1990
Sport
Disability class0.5
ClubVictoria Protect Lightning
Medal record
Wheelchair rugby
Representing  Australia
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place2016 RioMixed
World Championships
Silver medal – second place2018 SydneyMixed
Gold medal – first place2022 VejleMixed

Personal

Fawcett was born on December 31, 1990.[3] At the age of 18, a snowboard accident in New Zealand led to him becoming a quadriplegic.[3] He lives in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria.[4]

Wheelchair rugby

Whilst undertaking rehabilitation in Australia, he was introduced to wheelchair rugby.[3] He was named Australian Rookie of the Year in 2012 and made his international debut for Australian Steelers in 2013 at the tri-series between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.[5]

He was a member of the team that retained its gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics after defeating the United States 59–58 in the final.[6] He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2017.[7]

At the 2018 IWRF World Championship in Sydney, Australia, he was a member of the Australian team that won the silver medal after being defeated by Japan 61–62 in the gold medal game.[8]

At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, the Steelers finished fourth after being defeated by Japan 52–60 in the bronze medal game. COVID travel restrictions led to Steelers not having a team training since March 2020 prior to Tokyo.[9]

Fawcett won his first world championship gold medal at the 2022 IWRF World Championship in Vejle, Denmark, when Australia defeated the United States . [10]

References
  1. "Steelers aim to maintain their reign in Rio". Australian Paralympic Committee News. 25 July 2016. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  2. "Steelers Eyeing Paralympic History… Again". Paralympics Australia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  3. "Ben Fawcett". Australian Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  4. Michell, Laura (31 July 2018). "Bacchus Marsh's Ben Fawcett to represent Australia at Wheelchair Rugby Championships". Star Weekly. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  5. "Ben Fawcett". Australian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  6. Lees, Chris (19 September 2016). "Steelers double up with Paralympics gold". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  7. "OAM Final Media Notes (F-L)" (PDF). Governor General of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  8. "Results". IWRF Wheelchaair Rugby World Championships website. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  9. "Australia names wheelchair rugby team of 12 for Tokyo 2020". Inside The Games. 31 July 2021. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  10. "Australian Steelers Are World Wheelchair Rugby Champions". Paralympics Australia. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
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