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.

Similar to Armstrong, Adam was diagnosed with cancer when he was 17 and was forced to have his left leg amputated. Standing at 195cm, the West Australian was an avid basketballer and changed his focus from able-bodied basketball to wheelchair basketball.

Having played with the Perth Wheelcats since 2008 and playing at the World Club Championships in Japan, Adam debuted with the Rollers at the 2009 IWBF Asia Oceania Wheelchair Basketball Championships, following on from a successful performance at the U23 World Championships the same year.

Growing up, Adam was an elite junior baseball pitcher. Now, when he’s not training or studying for his sports science degree, he loves to spend time with his friends and girlfriend, watch the West Coast Eagles in the AFL and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA and go to the beach.