Brett Stibners had called time on playing for the Australian Rollers after London, but on Friday the Oak Flats basketballer will head to Rio for his third Paralympic Games.
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“After London I retired actually because physically and mentally I had enough. The day in and day out grind that it takes to be part of the team took its toll,’’ Stibners said.
“But at the start of last year I missed it and I felt physically really good so I spoke to the coach and he was happy for me to come back into the squad. From there I was picked for the qualifiers and then for Rio.’’
The 37-year-old headlines a strong Illawarra contingent picked for the Rollers team looking to better their London Paralympics’ silver medal exploits.
Shawn Russell from Farmborough Heights will make his Paralympic debut in Rio, while experienced campaigner and former Wollongong Roller Hawks player Tristan Knowles is lining up for his third games.
“All three reserves [Michael Auprince, Luke Pople and Sam White] also played for Wollongong Roller Hawks last year...so we are well represented,’’ Stibners said.
Australia, who are gunning to win a fourth straight medal at the Paralympics and a fifth medal overall since winning gold at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, are fancied to do well in Rio.
But Stibners is adamant the Rollers’ immediate aim should be to top their “very tough’’ group which includes the Netherlands, Turkey, Japan, Canada and Spain.
The Canadians overpowered Australia in the gold medal playoff in London four years ago.
The Australian men and women finished with silver.
Hosts Brazil, Iran, the USA, Great Britain, Germany and Algeria are in Group B.
“In the grand scheme of things trying to win a gold medal is the ultimate goal but we have enough experience to know that you have to get in a good position after your round games and win your quarter-final,’’ he said.
“For us the focus is at the moment to do well in the round games and avoid playing Great Britain and America in that first crossover [game] so we can make the semis and put ourselves in the best position to play for a medal.
“There’s probably four or five teams that on their day can beat us. It is going to be very interesting. I look forward to the competition. Hopefully with the way we’ve trained and prepared and with a bit of luck we can get into those medal rounds.
‘’You can win all five round games and lose the quarter final and you’re out. That happened to the Opals. We need to put ourselves in the best position to play for a medal.’’
Farmborough Heights' Shawn Russell heads to Rio
Shawn Russell vividly remembers the day he was introduced to wheelchair basketball.
Thirteen years down the track Russell is adamant that conversation with basketball pioneer Eino Okkonen set him on the course which will see him represent Australia at the Paralympic Games in Rio next month.
“I was waiting in the prosthetics’ shop to get my first leg fitted out when he [Okkonen] sat down next to me and had a bit of a chat,’’ Russell said.
“He obviously knew I had lost my leg and was an amputee himself. He asked me if I wanted to come along and try wheelchair basketball.
“My career all started from there really...the following Wednesday I went to Shellharbour Stadium and started having a shoot around and just loved it.’’
Before too long the Farmborough Heights teenager was playing for the Wollongong Roller Hawks alongside experienced campaigners Tristan Knowles, Brett Stibners and Brendan Dowler.
“I relied a lot on those guys to push me in the right direction I guess,’’ Russell said.
“Eino got me started and then these guys really helped develop my game. I’ve been around so much talent in Wollongong it’s not even funny. I couldn’t ask for a better start to basketball.’’
It didn’t take too long before Russell started pushing for an Australian spot but the 29-year-old was “gutted’’ when he just missed selection for the London Paralympics in 2012.
“After London I dropped off a little bit and thought I had missed the boat completely but the boys picked me up,’’ he said.
“I’m absolutely stoked to have made the team for Rio.’’
Fellow Illawarra basketballer Brett Stibners is also part of the Rollers team looking to go one step better and win a gold medal in Rio.
“We’re still ranked No.1 in the world so we’ve got a bullseye on our back for sure...but we’ll be doing our best to win gold,’’ Russell said.
Russell, who moved to Melbourne three years ago, joined the Australian Paralympic Committee and Optus in trying to raise funds for the Australian Paralympic team.
To support the team, donate $5 by texting #high5 to 1999 8787.
“It costs around $7 million to send the whole team over.’’