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Matt Lewis (wheelchair rugby)

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Matt Lewis
2016 Australian Paralympic team portrait of Lewis
Personal information
NicknameBomber
NationalityAustralian
Born (1987-01-08) 8 January 1987 (age 37)
Sport
Country Australia
SportWheelchair rugby
Disability class3.5
ClubVictoria Protect Lightning
Medal record
Wheelchair rugby
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio Mixed

Matt Franklin Lewis OAM (born 8 January 1987) is an Australian wheelchair rugby player. He won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics as a member of the Australian Steelers.[1][2]

Personal

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Lewis was born on 8 January 1987.[3] In 2011, at the age of 24, he was severely injured when making a home made bomb using a gas cylinder.[3][4] The bomb making operation went badly wrong and left him in an induced coma for just over a month. He lost most of his fingers and both his legs had to be amputated above the knees.[3][5] In addition, his hearing is impaired and he has many scars on his body.[6] In 2016, he was completing an electrical apprenticeship.[3] He assists programs that educate young people about the dangers of risk taking.[5]

Wheelchair rugby

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Lewis was introduced to wheelchair rugby by Victorian coach Bryce Alman.[3] In 2013/14, he played for Seattle Storm in the USA national league for five months and won a number of MVP awards.[3][7] In 2014, he was selected to play for the national team the Australian Steelers.[3] In 2016, he was the MVP at the Wheelchair Rugby National Series.[8]

He was a member of the team that retained its gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics after defeating the United States 59–58 in the final.[9] He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2017.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Steelers aim to maintain their reign in Rio". Australian Paralympic Committee News. 25 July 2016. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Steelers aim to maintain their reign in Rio". Australian Paralympic Committee News, 25 July 2016. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Matt Lewis". Australian Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  4. ^ Langmaid, AAron (30 March 2016). "Melbourne man who survived home-made bomb explosion sets sights on Rio". Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  5. ^ a b Medew, Julia (28 December 2012). "Lessons of life: teaching teenagers how one reckless moment means a lifetime of regret". The Age. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Look forward, not back - Matt Lewis". Access for All Abilities website. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  7. ^ "Matt Lewis". Victorian Institute of Sport website. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Wheelchair Rugby National Series: 11–13 March". Disability Sport & Recreation. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  9. ^ Lees, Chris (19 September 2016). "Steelers double up with Paralympics gold". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  10. ^ "OAM Final Media Notes (F-L)" (PDF). Governor General of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
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