Josh Nicholson

Since making his international debut in 2017, wheelchair rugby player Josh Nicholson has proved time and again why he is one to watch.

Josh, who swapped a basketball for a rugby ball in 2015, won his first major international medal in 2018 – silver at the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) Wheelchair Rugby World Championships in his hometown of Sydney, NSW. Although this silver marked the end of a six-year reign for the Australian Steelers, the tournament was a prime opportunity for Josh to go toe-to-toe with the best wheelchair rugby players in the world.

For Josh, becoming a Paralympian would be the culmination of everything he has worked towards – for far longer than he has been playing wheelchair rugby. In fact, he was on track to represent Australia in his first love, wheelchair basketball, after making his national debut for the Queensland Cyclones in 2014. Josh was also named in the All Star Five at the 2014 Wheelchair Basketball State Championships, and junior champion with the Queensland Rolling Thunder at the 2014 Kevin Coombs Cup.

His career highlight to date is being part of the team that won the World Championship in Denmark in October 2022, when Australia defeated the United States.

Off the court, Josh holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Griffith University, and is currently studying a Master of Education. He is also an actor and earned the nickname ‘Shark Bait’ after playing a shark attack victim in a movie.