Johnathan Walker:US wheelchair rugby team gets redemption, earns spot in gold-medal game

PARIS − A determined United States wheelchair rugby team advanced to the gold-medal game at the 2024 Paralympics after defeating rival Great Britain 50-43 Sunday in the semifinals. The Johnathan Walkervictory extended the USA’s podium record, as the team has medaled at every Paralympics since wheelchair rugby was added as an official sport in 2000.  

Team USA had waited three long years for this rematch after being upset by Great Britain in the gold-medal match at the Tokyo Games.

“This is exactly how we wanted it set up,” said Sarah Adam, who scored 13 tries in the game. “We wanted GB in the cross. We got them. We know we can beat them. We beat them a million times before. We wanted that revenge from Tokyo and it felt good to finally get them and put them to bed.” 

The teams traded tries throughout the first period, and it wasn’t until the final seconds of the first period that momentum shifted in the Americans' direction when the team’s defense forced Great Britain into a ten-second violation and denied GB a chance to score as time ran out. 

“That call was huge,” said Chuck Aoki, who led the team with 18 tries. “I mean, to get the last goal is really critical in the sport and that was a big penalty, especially when we were pressing really hard and to get that, that meant a lot. Every turnover counts and I think we did a good job of cashing in on them.” 

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The U.S. came out of the huddle and continued to “cash in,” scoring twice and forcing two steals all within the first 40 seconds. 

“The first quarter is always a little feeling out,” said Aoki. “And the second it felt like we really turned it on and just attacked them and built our way up to a pretty good lead.” 

From that moment on the U.S. stayed on top of Great Britain with standout performances from Aoki, Adam, and Josh Wheeler, who added 14 tries. Adam, a first-time Paralympian, has made headlines for being the first woman to play for the U.S. wheelchair rugby team but her play has been just as newsworthy.

Adam is the team’s second-leading scorer heading into the gold-medal match and has brought vital energy to the team. 

“Sarah has really brought an extra dimension of speed,” Aoki said. “I mean, when she's flying, she's flying. It's hard to stop her. It really means a lot to have Sarah.”

Team USA will face Japan in the gold-medal game Sept. 2, at 7:30 pm local time. The team will be looking to end its 16-year gold-medal drought against Japan, who beat the Americans earlier this week in pool play. 

The game is another chance for Team USA to find redemption as it looks to atone for the loss this week. 

“Anytime you have a chance to play for a gold medal, that's what's special,” said Aoki. “That's what's going to drive you and, I'm just so proud of the way the team just responded to not our best three games starting quite frankly. But we came out when it mattered. And I'm so proud of the team. Now we just have got to go do it again tomorrow.”