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A journey from injury to Paralympic glory

James was able to return home in early 2015 with the support of his family and friends. Reflecting on his time at the Austin, he chuckled, saying, "I was probably a nightmare for the nursing staff, with a constant stream of friends and family visiting at all hours."

James' fortune changed when he became eligible for triple nerve transfer surgery in both arms, significantly improving his ability to open and close them.

"I wouldn't have the level of independence I have today without that surgery – I'm very fortunate to have had the opportunity," James shared.

Austin Health is one of only two sites in Australia where there is an established nerve transfer surgery program within a spinal cord service.

During his stay on the Royal Talbot Spinal Ward, James first observed a local wheelchair rugby competition. "After therapy ended for the day, there wasn't much to do, so I started attending the matches on a Wednesday night," he said.

Years later, when James began reintegrating into sports, he reached out to the local wheelchair rugby competition in Melbourne. What started as an offer to "fill in if needed" quickly garnered interest from the Australian Wheelchair Rugby team, known as the Steelers.

After four months of training with the Steelers, James was invited to a development competition in Texas. Impressing selectors, he made his debut for the national team in August 2022. By that October, he was at the Wheelchair Rugby World Championships in Denmark where the Steelers won, with James less than a year into his wheelchair rugby career.

Reflecting on his journey, James added, "It was a remarkable journey, from novice to World Champion in just 11 months, I thoroughly enjoyed it."

We wish James the very best on his Paralympic debut and we will be cheering him on!