From a young age, Ryan Scott enjoyed a variety of sports, including football, soccer, basketball, surfing and motorbike riding. A car accident at the age of 16 changed this.

Ryan was a passenger in a car full of mates when the driver lost control and ran off the road. The force of the crash crushed him under the car roof, with his head pinned to his stomach and his spinal cord severely damaged. After spending six months in rehabilitation, followed by a further six months at home, he began playing wheelchair rugby – on top of Year 11 studies and countless hours at the gym.

In August 2001, Ryan was selected for the Australian team. Since then, he has represented Australia in many competitions including five Oceania Zone Championships, three World Championships and two Paralympic Games. After their fifth place finish in Athens, the Steelers worked hard to medal at the Beijing Games and secured themselves a silver place on the medal podium. Knocking New Zealand out of the competition, beating Canada in the semi-final and receiving a silver medal on the podium were some of the stand out moments for Ryan, who believes the Steelers’ team spirit was fantastic motivation to excel.

Ryan’s achievements haven’t come easily and are a result of dedication, commitment and hard work. As a low-pointer on the team, the accident left him with little movement and as co-captain, he plays an important defensive role. While he’ll never be a big goal scorer, Ryan moved to Brisbane from his home town of Adelaide to train with his team mates more regularly. With his clever strategic mind and elevated training regime, he is committed to ensuring he is in top form to represent his country.

When not training or competing, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family and friends, watching live sport and drag racing. With dreams of retiring as a gold medallist, he hopes his contribution on the court and leadership will be enough to get Australia over the line in London.