Andrew Edmondson
Andrew was born and grew up in Sydney as a very active healthy young person with a huge passion for sports and a dream to one day play rugby for Australia. He was just 13 years old when he dived into Coogee Beach hitting a sandbar and shattering the C5 and C6 vertebras in his spine before being told that he would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
During the early stages of Andrew's 11 months in hospital, he struggled, both physically and mentally with coming to terms with what had happened and what his life would be like from now on. A few months into his rehabilitation, Andrew was taken to try wheelchair rugby and for the first time since his accident he felt like he had some life again. From that day forward everything changed.
After returning to high school and finishing year 12, Andrew also completed a Bachelor Degree at university in Sports Business. All whilst working part time in different jobs, as well as playing on the NSW state team and traveling around Australia competing. However, his goal of representing his country had grown even more enticing. After years of hard work often training 6 days a week, Andrew was selected to play for Australia in 2012. He had reached his goal of representing Australia. His next goal was too reach the pinnacle of his sport and compete at a Paralympic Games.
In early 2016 Andrew was selected to be part of the 2016 Rio Paralympic team, in which Australia were equal favourites to win Gold. With a lot of expectation and hype around the team, they competed well to win all of their pool games including a tough semi final to play against USA in the final. In what people are now saying is the greatest game ever Australia beat the USA by 1 point in the second period of overtime to win the Gold Medal.
Being a Paralympic Gold medallist changed Andrew's life all over again and he now loves the opportunity to share not only his experiences with people but to also start to change their understanding of disabled athletes and to raise the profile of disabled sport.