Like many of his teammates, Nick Taylor competed at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. But unlike members of the gold medal winning Australian team, he did not win a gold medal, instead playing for his native South Africa. Having now moved to Australia, Nick is looking to fulfil his dream and take home gold for his adopted country.

Rated by Australian coach Ben Ettridge as a world class athlete, Nick is a former junior national representative for South Africa and captain of Natal, a South African provincial team. The day before the final of the U19 South African National Championships in 1998, he was involved in a serious car accident in Johannesburg. It left Nick with paraplegia at the age of 18.

Rather than rest on his laurels, Nick has carved out a successful career, both on the basketball court and in the business world. Having studied in Cape Town and abroad in Texas, he attained an honours degree in Business Science. Nick moved to Australia in 2005, basing himself in the Illawarra region while playing for the West Sydney Razorbacks.

Nick warms up for matches by shooting form shots from close range, before practising his free throws. It should come as no surprise then that he has the honour of owning the record for most free throws in a minute at Saxby Stadium in Taree, landing an impressive 19 shots in 60 seconds in 2009.

He got his first start for the Australian national team at the 2009 World Roller Challenge, before being named MVP at the 2010 Frank Ponta Trophy. One day, Nick wants to be able to tell his kids about the time he won a Paralympic gold medal for Australia.