Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson

But it was a quote by British Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson that caught my eye the most, when describing having to be transported by the airport’s one ‘transport’ wheelchair:

“You’re in a chair that’s not your own.

“It’s like being asked to wear someone else’s clothes. That’s what it’s like sitting in another person’s wheelchair.”

I thought it quite aptly encapsulated a feeling I get every time I’m in a similar situation. Interesting.

Anyway, read the full story here if you like.

Fresh from the wheelchair rugby world championships in Vancouver, players from New Zealand’s official national wheelchair rugby team will compete against a team of local celebrities and rugby players, including Tana Umaga, Keven Mealamu, Buck Shelford, and the Black Ferns, to raise awareness of the work of the New Zealand Rugby Foundation (NZRF) and its online rugby community website www.no8.co.nz.

The NZRF assists seriously injured rugby players and their families with the aim of bridging the gap between their ‘before’ and ‘after’ quality of life. They provide lifestyle retraining and grants for injured players and their families, as well as providing them with vocational training, specialised transport and respite care.

The not-for-profit organisation launched www.no8.co.nz in order to create an online community for passionate rugby supporters that would celebrate New Zealander’s best-loved sport, as well as serve to benefit seriously injured rugby players.

NZRF CEO Andrew Flexman is excited about the opportunity to spotlight the charity.

“This is a great opportunity for the New Zealand public to see what the Foundation is all about and be inspired by the unsung heroes of rugby – our Wheel Blacks.”

Limited tickets to the event will be available for purchase on www.no8.co.nz from 27 September.

The public is encouraged to visit the No.8 website to make donations to the NZRF, enter various competitions and engage with the interactive activities on the website related to the event, such as polls and discussion boards.

With over 140,000 New Zealanders over the age of 16 playing rugby, the NZRF is a vital player in the national game. As well as supporting injured rugby players and the Auckland and Burwood Spinal Units, the NZRF also aims to help prevent further critical injuries through rugby safety and injury prevention initiatives such as RugbySmart and supports other areas of ‘rugby in need’ such as wheelchair rugby, NZ Area Schools rugby, player insurance and club rugby.

The No.8 Celebrity Wheelchair Rugby Match will be held at the Auckland Spinal Unit Gymnasium at 30 Bairds Road, Otara, Auckland at 1pm on Sunday 10 October. To make a donation to the NZRF or to purchase tickets to the event please visit www.no8.co.nz.

“I don’t know what to say. I gave it everything out there. I’m too tired to think or say anything. It’s so fantastic to win,” she said.

This is young Sophie’s 3rd medal, following on from the gold she won in the women’s 100m breaststroke, and the silver medal she won in the women’s 100m butterfly.

In other Paralympics news, NZ shooter Michael Johnson has scored a bronze medal in the men’s 10m Air Rifle Standing event, and Paula Teseriero has followed up her gold medal with a bronze in the women’s individual pursuit at the Beijing validrome.

Awesome stuff guys!

Also in the medal action on day 3 of competition is cyclist Paula Tesoriero, who has won a bronze medal in the women’s Individual Pursuit, to add to her gold medal on the first day.

Awesome stuff – go you Kiwi girls!

Good on ya Sophie, we’re all very proud of you!

If you’re not sure who Sophie is, I’ve blogged about her before – video included!

BC1

Liam Sanders

• Beat D. Smith (Great Britain) 5 – 2
• Beat A. Marques (Portugal) 6 – 0
• Lost to R. Aandalen (Norway) 5 – 2
• Lost to P. Moran (Ireland) 7 – 3

BC2

Maurice Toon

• Lost to J. Morriss (New Zealand) 9 – 4 (Tiebreak 5 – 0 to Morriss)
• Beat E. Wilhemsen (Norway) 21 – 0
• Lost to H. Kwok (Hong Kong) 4 – 3

Jeremy Morriss

• Beat M. Toon (New Zealand) 9 – 4
• Lost to H. Kwok (Hong Kong) 3 – 2
• Beat E. Wilhelmsen (Norway) 10 – 1

Kerry Bonner

• Lost to N. Murray (Great Britain) 17 – 0
• Lost to J. Loung (Hong Kong) 4 – 1
• Lost to T. Hirose (Japan) 8 – 1

BC3

Henk Dijkstra

• Lost to V. Sukkarath (Thailand) 5 – 4
• Lost to G. Polychronidis (Greece) 19 – 0
• Beat H. Zhu (China) 13 – 0

Greig Jackson

• Beat J. Zhu (China) 4 – 2
• Lost to B. Shin (Korea) 6 – 2
• Lost to J. Rodriguez (Spain) 4 – 3 (Tiebreak 1 – 0 to Rodriguez)

Mandy Slade

• Lost to M. Peixoto (Portugal) 12 – 0
• Lost to T. Visaratnanunta (Thailand) 11 – 0
• Lost to H. Jeong (Korea) 14 – 0

The win, however, came with an element of post-race drama. After crossing the line, Tesoriero was about to get off the track so she slowed down and was looking around. While riding slowly across the corner of the course, she crashed her bike and couldn’t move. There didn’t appear to be any reason for the crash other than an error in judgment.

The medical assistants put her on the stretcher immediately and her expression was etched in pain. She couldn’t speak; her chin and hands were shaking uncontrollably. Yet at that very moment, it appeared on the screen that she won the gold medal. Looking at the screen, she burst into tears. Fellow athletes came to her side and gave their congratulations; she struggled to sit up and waved her left hand to the many spectators who were encouraging her.

Good on ya Paula, let’s hope it’s a sign of things to come!

Check it out!