From Camperdown in country Victoria, Josh Hose is one of the rising stars of Australian wheelchair rugby.

On Australia Day in 2005 Josh was a passenger in a car with his mates when the driver lost control. As a result of the accident, Josh was left with serious spinal damage, putting his life on a course he could never have predicted. After two weeks in an induced coma, a six-hour operation to realign his spine and recovering from two collapsed lungs, Josh’s world as he knew it was turned upside down.

Ever the competitor, he began playing the sport as part of his rehabilitation and has since become one of the leading players for his state team, the Victorian Thunder.

His outstanding form in recent seasons eventually caught the eye of national selectors and he was named in the Australian train-on squad for the 2009 Asia-Oceania Zone Championships.

Since then, Josh has maintained his position in the side, competing in all major tournaments in 2010 and 2011as a valuable 3-point player.

Josh loves basketball and looks up to LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant for inspiration. As well as basketball, Josh has a passion for politics but concedes he needs to take a few interview tips out of the politicians’ books, after what he describes as his most embarrassing moment during his first major media interview where his mind went blank at the 2010 World Championships.

Before each game, Josh likes to compose himself with a few minutes of ‘me time’ and hopes he can help the team win gold in London.