U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team Brings Home Silver From World Championship

Team USA poses for a photo after securing the silver medal at the 2022 Wheelchair Rugby World Championship on Oct. 16, 2022 in Veile, Denmark

 

The long-running rivalry between the U.S. and Australia wheelchair rugby teams surfaced again Sunday in Vejle, Denmark.


One year after the U.S. defeated Australia to reach the title game at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, the Aussies struck back with a 58-55 win in the gold-medal match of the Wheelchair Rugby World Championship.


It was the fifth time the two countries met in the final of the world championship or Paralympic Games.


The silver medal marked the Americans’ best finish at the world championship since 2010, when they defeated Australia to win gold, and extended a streak in which the U.S. has won a medal at every world championship since the first one in 1995.


The U.S. also won a silver medal in the Paralympic Games last year in Tokyo, losing to Great Britain in the final.


Australia and the U.S. were tied 31-31 at halftime, but the Aussies managed to grab the lead in the third quarter. They then controlled the clock in the fourth to ensure there was no U.S. comeback. It’s the second world championship for Australia and second in the last three tournaments.


“A lot of people wrote us off, but being able to play against America in the final, they played amazing,” said Ryley Batt, who led Australia with 41 tries and a big interception in the third quarter.


Australia and the U.S. also met in the gold-medal match at the Paralympic Games Rio 2016, won by the Aussies in double overtime. In addition, Team USA beat Australia for the Paralympic gold medal in 2000 and 2008.


The U.S. has medaled at every Paralympic Games and world championship, winning three Paralympic gold medals and four world titles. The U.S. won the Americas Championship and Tri Nations Invitational earlier this year.


The 2022 world championship was historic for the U.S. in that the squad featured two women for the first time. Sarah Adam and Liz Dunn were named to the team in December 2021.


Japan won the bronze medal, defeating host Denmark by a score of 61-57.

The long-running rivalry between the U.S. and Australia wheelchair rugby teams surfaced again Sunday in Vejle, Denmark.


One year after the U.S. defeated Australia to reach the title game at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, the Aussies struck back with a 58-55 win in the gold-medal match of the Wheelchair Rugby World Championship.


It was the fifth time the two countries met in the final of the world championship or Paralympic Games.


The silver medal marked the Americans’ best finish at the world championship since 2010, when they defeated Australia to win gold, and extended a streak in which the U.S. has won a medal at every world championship since the first one in 1995.


The U.S. also won a silver medal in the Paralympic Games last year in Tokyo, losing to Great Britain in the final.


Australia and the U.S. were tied 31-31 at halftime, but the Aussies managed to grab the lead in the third quarter. They then controlled the clock in the fourth to ensure there was no U.S. comeback. It’s the second world championship for Australia and second in the last three tournaments.


“A lot of people wrote us off, but being able to play against America in the final, they played amazing,” said Ryley Batt, who led Australia with 41 tries and a big interception in the third quarter.


Australia and the U.S. also met in the gold-medal match at the Paralympic Games Rio 2016, won by the Aussies in double overtime. In addition, Team USA beat Australia for the Paralympic gold medal in 2000 and 2008.


The U.S. has medaled at every Paralympic Games and world championship, winning three Paralympic gold medals and four world titles. The U.S. won the Americas Championship and Tri Nations Invitational earlier this year.


The 2022 world championship was historic for the U.S. in that the squad featured two women for the first time. Sarah Adam and Liz Dunn were named to the team in December 2021.


Japan won the bronze medal, defeating host Denmark by a score of 61-57.

Todd Kortemeier is a sportswriter, editor and children’s book author from Minneapolis. He is a contributor to TeamUSA.org courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.