Matt Lewis (wheelchair rugby)

Matt Franklin Lewis OAM (born 8 January 1987) is an Australian wheelchair rugby player. He won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics as a member of the Australian Steelers.[1][2]

Matt Lewis
2016 Australian Paralympic team portrait of Lewis
Personal information
Nickname(s)Bomber
NationalityAustralian
Born (1987-01-08) 8 January 1987
Sport
Country Australia
SportWheelchair rugby
Disability class3.5
ClubVictoria Protect Lightning
Medal record
Wheelchair rugby
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place2016 RioMixed

Personal

Lewis was born on 8 January 1987.[3] In 2011, at the age of 24, he was severely injured when making a home made bomb using a gas cylinder.[3][4] The bomb making operation went badly wrong and left him in an induced coma for just over a month. He lost most of his fingers and both his legs had to be amputated above the knees.[3][5] In addition, his hearing is impaired and he has many scars on his body.[6] In 2016, he was completing an electrical apprenticeship.[3] He assists programs that educate young people about the dangers of risk taking.[5]

Wheelchair rugby

Lewis was introduced to wheelchair rugby by Victorian coach Bryce Alman.[3] In 2013/14, he played for Seattle Storm in the USA national league for five months and won a number of MVP awards.[3][7] In 2014, he was selected to play for the national team the Australian Steelers.[3] In 2016, he was the MVP at the Wheelchair Rugby National Series.[8]

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.[9] He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2017.[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 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.
  3. "Matt Lewis". Australian Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  4. Langmaid, AAron (30 March 2016). "Melbourne man who survived home-made bomb explosion sets sights on Rio". Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  5. Medew, Julia (28 December 2012). "Lessons of life: teaching teenagers how one reckless moment means a lifetime of regret". The Age. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  6. "Look forward, not back - Matt Lewis". Access for All Abilities website. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  7. "Matt Lewis". Victorian Institute of Sport website. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  8. "Wheelchair Rugby National Series: 11–13 March". Disability Sport & Recreation. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  9. Lees, Chris (19 September 2016). "Steelers double up with Paralympics gold". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  10. "OAM Final Media Notes (F-L)" (PDF). Governor General of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
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