The story of Lance Armstrong’s battle to overcome cancer and reach the heights of sporting greatness is widely publicised. Looking up to his hero, the sporting exploits of Australian wheelchair basketball Adam Deans may too go down in sporting folk lore one day, as the up-coming basketball star looks to make his place in history at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Brendan Dowler is one determined and successful man. One of four siblings from New South Wales, he is a self-labelled senior member of the Australian wheelchair basketball team

After reaching his sporting goal of making the Australian team, Brendan was given some icing on the cake, winning a silver medal at the Athens Games. Beijing was even more fruitful as the Australian team won gold, breaking their 12 year gold medal drought. Winning a Paralympic gold medal is his greatest achievement; marrying his wife is the only event that rivals his gold medal.

Adrian King started playing basketball in 1984 and first represented Australia in 1999. His career with his country has had both highs and lows. After suffering a devastating loss in the semi-finals and placing third at the 2002 World Championships, Adrian went on to be part of the Rollers team that won silver in Athens. The Rollers went one better in 2008, winning the gold medal at the Beijing Paralympics. Adrian says it felt fantastic to beat the World Champions Canada in a gold medal match and finds the whole experience difficult to put into words.

Troy Sachs, OAM, ASM is one of the greats of Australian Paralympic basketball. He first represented Australia at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 at the age of 16. In 1996, he was a gold medallist in Atlanta, where his 42 point score in the final earned him a world record. He also received an award from the Australian Paralympic Committee for the Most Outstanding Individual Performance at the Games.

Sarah Vinci made her charge into the Gliders team at just the right time and was part of the silver medal winning team at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The talented youngster came onto the international scene in 2011 and has quickly become part a regular fixture in the Gliders line-up.

The West Australian made her debut for Australia at the 2011 Osaka Cup in Japan, winning a silver medal on her first international trip. She was later selected in the Australian under 25s team that competed in the inaugural U/25 Women’s World Wheelchair Championships.

Setting his sights on competing at his first Paralympic Games at London 2012, Shawn Russell is one very determined individual.

Shawn was born with a defect leg and had his leg amputated when he was 16. While recovering in hospital, wheelchair basketballer Eino Okkonen paid him a visit, encouraging the teenager to give wheelchair basketball a try. While initially reluctant, Shawn was eventually convinced and attended a Wollongong Roller Hawks training session. He was hooked.

Among the up-and-coming rising stars of wheelchair basketball in Australia, John McPhail has fast proved a vital cog in the Rollers’ all conquering team.

A car accident when John was 12 months old left him a paraplegic. Having initially tried a number of different sports, John quickly developed a fondness for wheelchair basketball because he felt it was the sport that provided the greatest challenge.

For Leanne Del Toso, basketball comes naturally. The proud Melbournian played able-bodied basketball throughout her childhood before suffering from a neurological condition that reduced mobility in her legs. She was forced to give basketball away at the age of 19 after she was unable to run and jump.

Wheelchair basketball was the vehicle through which Leanne was able to return to the sport. She was working at a local gym and noticed a flyer on the wall about a Paralympic Talent Search day and the rest is history.

After coming within a whisker of making the Australian team for Beijing 2008, wheelchair basketball player Bill Latham was over the moon to make the national team for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Seen as the heir apparent to long time Rollers big men Brad Ness and Justin Eveson, Bill is an imposing force on the court and contributed a sizeable 27 points during the London campaign, where the team won silver after losing to Canada in the gold medal match.

Amber Merritt is one of the emerging stars of the Australian line up and was the second highest point scorer at her debut Games in London, where the team won a silver medal. Having firmly established herself in the Gliders team as a teenager, Amber looks set to enjoy a long and distinguished career with the national team.

The West Australian starred at the 2011 U/25 World Championships, playing a critical role in Australia winning a silver medal. She top scored in Australia’s 60-47 semi-final victory over Canada, scoring 25 points to go with her 11 rebounds.