Timeline - Paralympics

Year

1955

Basketball was one of the first sports at Shenton Park, with a low ring

1957

Western Australia wheelchair basketball grand final action

1960 Paralympian Frank Ponta recalls wheelchair basketballers training against able-bodied players.

Frank Ponta talks about early basketball competitions against able-bodied players

WA ‘Paras’ vs the police cadets on the streets of Perth

Pan Am Jets representing the USA at the 1957 Stoke Mandeville Games

Basketball controversy at the 1957 Stoke Mandeville Games

1960

Our stories

Wheelchair basketball results from summer Paralympics and World Championships from 1960.

Wheelchair basketball results at summer Paralympics and World Championships from 1960

The first Royal North Shore Paraplegic Games

Basketball concluded the first RNSH Paraplegic Games

Kalgoorlie crowd watches Paras push around police cadets

1964

Mather-Brown takes his basketball chair to the track

A player from an unknown team shoots a free throw in a wheelchair basketball game against the USA at the Yoyogi Indoor Stadium during the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Basketball free throw Tokyo Summer Paralympics

Action during a wheelchair basketball game between two unknown teams outside the Yoyogi Indoor Stadium during the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Wheelchair basketball Tokyo Paralympics

1966

Paying attention to the pre-event briefing

Championship basketball in a suburban street

The basketball (most of) team photo

Australia plays England in the wheelchair basketball final at the Second Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Kingston, Jamaica. Australians L to R in the dark singlets: Jimmy Newton, Kevin Cunningham, John Martin, Bill Mather-Brown (tip-off) and Bruno Moretti. English player in tip-off is Cyril Thomas/Thompson. England won the game and the gold medal.Photo donated from the personal collection of Bill Mather-Brown, one of Australia's original Paralympians.

Tip-off in the basketball final vs England

Australia plays England in the wheelchair basketball final at the Second Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Kingston, Jamaica. Visible Australians L to R in the dark singlets: John Martin, Bill Mather-Brown, Garry Moore and Kevin Cunningham. England won the game and the gold medal.Photo donated from the personal collection of Bill Mather-Brown, one of Australia's original Paralympians.

All eyes on the ball – basketball final vs England

1972

Up against the best in the Basketball

Action from the basketball game against the USA

1976

But neither manage to make it into the final

GALLERY: Wheelchair technology in 1976

1980

The fast men of the track had one thing in common – beards!

Head to head in the wheelchair slalom

Tip-off, Australia vs USA

Size isn’t everything, but it helps in basketball

A moment from the game between the Australian and USA in wheelchair basketball at the 1980 summer Paralympics shows the stage of evolution of basketball chairs in 1980. The USA won easily, 87-36.This image is a still from a film made by Donald Worley about Australia's participation at the 1980 Summer Paralympics in Arnhem, Netherlands.

Basketball was a different game in 1980 and so was the equipment

GALLERY: The weird and the wonderful world of sport wheelchair design in 1980

1984

Tip-off, as Australia takes on Great Britain in basketball

A scene for the wheelchair basketball game between Australian and Great Britain at the 1984 summer Paralympics. Great Britain won the game. This image is a still from a film made by Donald Worley about Australia's participation at the 1984 Summer Paralympics in Stoke Mandeville, England.

Reclassification of several players affected the basketball team’s line-ups

1988

In wheelchair basketball, Australia was seeking to close the gap

The game against Argentina was positive

Even if it had its moments

David Gould played the second Paralympics of his long career

And our basketballers didn’t lack for local supporters

Another Games, another javelin medal for Donna Smith

1992

Our stories

The Australian team comprised 134 athletes and 41 staff, including the first Paralympic appearance by the national women’s basketball team.

Australia at the Barcelona Summer Paralympics 1992

Hobbs and Carter tangle in Barcelona

There’s no way through for Donna Ritchie either

And Coralie Churchett seems worried about her options

David Gould looks to score under intense pressure

But Troy Sachs is there for the rebound

Michael Callahan finds some space

Team staff in the office had plenty of supervision

GALLERY: Scenes from the successful women’s basketball campaign

The boomerangs didn’t reach the same heights as the Pearls

Victorian Rodney Meddings (#9) brings the ball into the front court for the Australian Boomerangs in the game against Great Britain at the 1992 Madrid Paralympic Games for Persons with Mental Handicap. The Boomerangs, Australia's national men's team for players with an intellectual disability, defeated GB 65-20, but finished seventh in the tournament.

Rodney Meddings brings the ball down the floor

John Lettice puts up a shot

1995

Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Fame induction for John Martin

1996

You could feel the excitement in the Australian camp from Day 1

Libby Kosmala led the Australian team into the opening ceremony

While yet another sport made history

Rollers’ captain Sandy Blythe was in control

The Aussie supporters made their presence felt in the stands

And so did Banjo, the Australian Team mascot

Troy Sachs has the honour of cutting down the net

Women’s basketball was at its second Games and Australia just missed a medal

Amanda Carter hustles for the ball on defence

Liesl Tesch is a picture of concentration

2000

Nick Maroney made his first poster play before the Games started

Nicholas Maroney shoots during the Basketball for athletes with an Intellectual Disability event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Doing it for real – Nick Maroney gets another poster shot against Greece

Lee Collins take a shot during the Basketball for athletes with an Intellectual Disability event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Lee Collins shows he can take it to the rim too

Women's Wheelchair Basketball team compete in Sydney Summer Paralympics

The Gliders campaign was off to a good start

Australian swimmer Amanda Fraser competes in the S7 200IM at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, 20 October 2000

Amanda Fraser’s first Games was as a swimmer

Troy Sachs (AUS) dives Wheelchair Basketball Sydney 2000

Troy Sachs took to the air for this lay-up

© Sport the library/Ryan GormlySydney 2000 Paralympic GamesWheelchair Basketball, Day 03, Aus v KorAustralia Celebrate

And the Rollers accounted for Korea

Sydney 2000 Paralympic GamesWheelchair Basketball, Day 4Liesl Tesch (AUS)

The Gliders continued to play with passion and confidence

© Sport the library/Tom PuttSydney 2000 Paralympic GamesWheelchair BasketballPeter Corr (AUS, Coach)

The Gliders’ coaching staff matched the intensity of the players

ID Basketball Bradley Lee (AUS)

Bradley Lee is in control

ID Basketball Brett Wilson

Up in the air #1: Brett Wilson launches

The Rollers came up against the USA in the must-win quarter-finals

The Womens Australian Basketball team celebrate their Silver medal win at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Australia’s first ever women’s basketball medal – the start of a tradition

2004

Australia’s team captains and opening ceremony flag bearer

The Gliders had a stirring one point win over the USA

While the Rollers were tipping off their campaign with some good wins

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An underground garage was the team’s first ever recovery centre

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Troy Sachs suffers for his sport

Things went better at the basketball

The Aussie fans were out in force

The Rollers were back on the dais

Athens in 2004 – great venues, wide open spaces and big crowds

2007

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The Prime Minister announced the largest ever funding increase for Paralympic sport

2008

Photograph of wheelchair basketball player Clare Burzynski before the Australia v Brazil preliminary game at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

Beijing is introduced to Australia’s Clare Burzynski

Tristan Knowles Prepares to Pass

Brad Ness Shoots Free Throw

Gliders line up pre-game for the national anthems

Grant Mizens 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games

Australian wheelchair basketballer Gauci looks to pass to Chaplin

Liesl Tesch shoots against the USA

2017

3D Model of Ade Adepitan. In celebration of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. ‘Winning Shot’ by Christine Charlesworth. Paralympian, Ade Adepitan MBE, plays wheelchair basketball.

Ade Adepitan by Christine Charlesworth

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