When Chris Bond was 19, he suddenly became ill with a rare form of leukaemia. During treatment, he contracted a severe bowl infection that sent him into septic shock. The infection spread through his body and quickly developed into gangrene and with his life in the balance, doctors made the decision to amputate both his legs below the knee, his left wrist and all but one of his fingers on his right hand, before he could continue his cancer treatment.

Before his illness, Chris was a keen sportsman with a passion for rugby league, and while still adjusting to life with prosthetic limbs, vowed to continue playing sport. He began to swim and trained regularly at the AIS swimming pool but found he missed the contact and camaraderie of team sport. After meeting with Australian Wheelchair Rugby Head Coach Brad Dubberley in 2010, Chris’ rugby passion sparked up and he began training and playing in the wheelchair rugby national league.

While initially struggling with the high level of upper body strength required for wheelchair rugby, Chris’ natural talent shone through and he was selected to the Australian wheelchair rugby squad that was to play at the 2011 Great Britain Cup. Classified as a 3.5 player, the same as Australian wheelchair rugby heavyweight Ryley Batt, Chris was able to get some valuable court time during the tournament, which he believes was crucial to his ongoing development as a player. At his first Paralympic Games in London, Chris was instrumental in the team’s gold medal win – the first wheelchair rugby gold Australia has ever won at a Paralympic Games.

Growing up in Canberra, Chris follows the Canberra Raiders and particularly looks up to former Raiders captain Clinton Schifcofske, who he has become close friends with since his illness and recovery. Chris has also been a board member for Canteen, a charity organisation for young people living with cancer, from 2008 until August 2011 and was the charity’s National Vice President.

Now living in Brisbane, Chris loves to walk his black Labrador and hang out with his mates when he’s not training towards his goal of being the premier 3.5 wheelchair rugby player in the world.