Steve Serio Stars in Swansong Game, Leading U.S. Wheelchair Basketball To Third Consecutive Paralympic Gold Medal

PARIS — Title it a three-peat. The perfect ending to a Hollywood script.

In team captain Steve Serio’s final game on the grand stage and on Trevon Jenifer’s birthday, the U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball team joined forces, uniting like brothers. 

They executed and took care of business. They played for one another. They battled back valiantly when their lead dwindled to three points with 1:28 remaining in the contest. They defeated their never-say-die rival, Great Britain, 73-69, to clinch their third consecutive Paralympics gold medal.

What a night for Team USA at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Saturday night at Bercy Arena.

“This is what dreams are made of – to go out in this environment with this group of athletes and staff behind me,” Serio told Team USA, shortly after receiving his gold medal. “I can’t think of a more storybook ending than this one. Bringing another gold medal to my country is a surreal feeling and I’m really honored to be part of the moment.”

Serio, who starred in his fifth and final Paralympics – an integral part of U.S. teams that won gold medals at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, and bronze at the London 2012 Paralympic Games – performed like the bona-fide star and face of the U.S. wheelchair basketball team that he has become. And a leading ambassador for Para sports.

The 36-year-old veteran from Long Island, New York, scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished eight assists. It was a stellar team-leading performance. 

“He was aggressive out of the gate – it’s awesome because we’re roommates back at the village,” said Serio’s longtime teammate Trevon Jenifer, who also had a big night. “Last game, he wakes up before me and was amped. Today was weird – he was calmer, it was definitely the calm before the storm.”

“Having him plugging away and just hitting shots and that’s what we needed from him tonight,” said Nate Hinze, who has been teammates with Serio at the past three triumphant Paralympics. 

Serio fouled out with 1:50 left on the clock and the U.S. leading, 67-60. He deserved the rest – it was probably past his bedtime.

“The symbolism of me being pulled off the court before I was 100 percent done is not lost on me,” Serio said. “I was really mad that I wasn’t there for my guys at the end. I had 100-percent confidence that they would close it out.”

Looking on from the bench, Serio was certainly in capable hands, but behemoth Lee Manning and a pesky Great Britain squad wouldn’t roll over. 

With the lead cut to three, Jake Williams buried a clutch shot with 1:14 remaining to put the U.S. ahead by five – two of William’s game-leading 26 points.

Jenifer celebrated a birthday on Saturday, yet another of many sub-plots on an epic night under the bright lights of Bercy Arena.

“My birthday is just another year, another day gone, but this moment will be last a lifetime,” Jenifer said. “Having a stadium sing Happy Birthday to you is touching.”

Jenifer mixed it up and notched 14 points, on a few occasions coming off high-tempo fast breaks, the recipient of perfect passes, at least one from Williams, who channeled his inner Patrick Mahomes.

“I think they were very aggressive on me so I just tried to find the open guy in the flow of the offense,” Williams said. “We just tried to take what they were giving us.”

Serio talked about Jenifer’s big-game performance on his 36th birthday.

“As soon as we woke up, we started celebrating his birthday – he’s somebody who gives so much to this program both on-and-off the field play,” Serio said. “He sacrifices so much and it was a really special moment for him to have his family here to see all the hard work that goes into winning a gold medal.”

Brian Bell – who like Jenifer and Williams played all 40 minutes – scored from outside the paint to boost the U.S. to a 72-66 lead with 0:19 ticks of the clock remaining. He and his teammates began to taste gold.

Bell, the star of the team’s semifinal win over Canada – having led the way with a staggering 31 points – proceeded to hit one of two free throws after a desperate Great Britain foul to seal the 73-69 gold-medal victory.

The U.S. brothers erupted in euphoria. They bonded together in a circle at center court, like the brothers in arms that they have become playing side by side for years and years. It was undoubtedly a special moment for Team USA’s veteran squad, captain Serio and head coach Rob Taylor.

“This is the best – it’s hard to put into words,” Hinze said. “Looking up into the crowd and seeing your wife and kids, it is amazing.”

The team received their gold medals from Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games chairman Casey Wasserman just moments after the clock struck midnight. Serio had a third Paralympics gold medal draped around his neck just a few minutes into his 37th birthday.

“The cool thing is he (Jenifer) actually passed the birthday baton to me, cause it’s my birthday now today,” Serio said.

“It’s a storybook ending – it’s kind of wild,” Hinze said.

“Paris was an awesome experience and it is about to get better,” Jenifer said.

Naturally, this tight-knit, veteran-led U.S. squad will look considerably different in four years when the Paralympics arrives on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Not only Serio, but also Williams, Nate Hinze, and possibly veterans Jenifer and Bell may have played their final Paralympics for Team USA, going out on top.

Four-in-a-row might be another Hollywood blockbuster. Serio – who will be age 40 then – will certainly not be the lead actor when the U.S. wheelchair basketball team performs in sunny California, but he says he’ll be there in a supporting role.

“It’s my job now to pass the baton and give the next generation of adaptive sports athletes the dream of what it means to be a Team USA athlete,” Serio said. “The Paralympic movement has given me everything I have and I want to continue that progress that has been built over decades and decades.

“I want to be part of that just not on the field of play,” he said.