“end of season” feeling
Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
For me, the end of the Paris 2024 Paralympics had that “end of season” feeling. During this cycle, we have had two European Championships, one World Championship, and one World Championship equivalent (in terms of ranked teams in attendance), plus a myriad of other tournaments in between. Regardless of the outcome of any of those tournaments, the thought afterward was always, “Let’s build on this result for the Paralympics.” Now that Paris 2024 has come and gone, we can take a breath, as everything we were working towards has concluded, and you’re left with a range of post-season feelings: a little bit lost on where to direct your thoughts, some relief that you now have space to think about other areas of your life, excitement in preparation to build on the performance, and great memories to reflect on.
Everything you do revolves around the Games
With this being my first Paralympic cycle in any sort of working capacity, it has been an interesting experience. When you compare it to the World Cup—while a huge deal in football terms—the fans, and even those not close to the game, remain fixed on the year-to-year aspirations of winning the league or promotion. In the Olympic and Paralympic space, however, it seems to the outside world that everything you do revolves around the Games. No medal success at the Games is often seen as total failure and a waste of the last few years. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Challenging but rewarding
As the CEO of Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the development of our GB team up close over the past three years. Traveling to tournaments overseas and regularly attending training camps, I’ve greatly appreciated building relationships with the squad members and seeing the growth of both veteran and new players. The journey from Tokyo to Paris has been challenging but rewarding, and I couldn’t be prouder of what our athletes and performance staff have achieved.
I am upbeat in my analysis.
Many recent conversations I’ve had with people often start with either a look of disappointment or awkwardness when the 2024 Paris Paralympics comes up. I can feel the trepidation mounting as they are unsure whether I will be too furious to discuss it or sheepishly embarrassed in my recollection of events. My response is neither. When you consider the context of our result in relation to our performances across the entire Paris cycle, it was outstanding. With that in mind, I am upbeat in my analysis. Of course, the team and I would have loved to receive a medal; but not only is wheelchair rugby the only full-contact disability sport in the Games (although some of the contact I saw in blind football, which didn’t result in a free kick or penalty, makes me think otherwise), it is also the only sport at the Paralympics that has just one set of medals on offer. Every other sport has multiple classifications or formats, offering more opportunities to win a medal. Wheelchair rugby has only gold, silver, and bronze available. Our athletes compete in one event spread over five matches. It’s tough to play, and even tougher to win a medal.
Tremendous achievement
With silver medal performances at both the 2022 and 2023 European Championships, and a 7th place finish at the 2022 World Championships, winning the group stage by beating world champions Australia in the opening match—a team we had not defeated in more than three years—was a tremendous achievement. Beating the French team, who had the measure of us for the majority of this cycle, defeating us in back-to-back European finals, also demonstrated the progress our GB team has made.
Defending champions
We came to Paris as defending champions, and the weight of that title only fueled the fire in our squad. Every game was a testament to the dedication, hard work, and sheer resilience of our players. They left everything on the court, fighting through some of the toughest matches we’ve faced in recent years. The level of competition was fierce, but our athletes met it head-on with heart, determination, and true team spirit.
Forefront of wheelchair rugby
While we didn’t clinch gold this time, our performance in Paris showed the world that Great Britain remains at the forefront of wheelchair rugby. Each player demonstrated not only extraordinary athleticism but also incredible mental toughness. We may not have reached the top step of the podium, but the lessons learned and the unity forged throughout the tournament will propel us forward.
Incredibly proud
I’m incredibly proud of how our team represented the nation. Their passion, commitment, and never-say-die attitude are what make this team so special. We’ve come a long way, and the journey doesn’t end here—this is just another chapter in our story.
Our incredible fans
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported us, from the coaching staff to our incredible fans. Your belief in this team has been our driving force, and we’re already looking ahead to the next challenge. Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby is is on an upward trajectory and the future is very exciting indeed.
Jason Brisbane, CEO, Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby
