USA Wheelchair Rugby finished out the 2016 Canada Cup with a perfect record Sunday, posting a 56-53 win over Canada. In addition to an overall team victory for the tournament, USA’s Jeff Butler was awarded the .5 Best in Class at the event.
A win at Canada Cup also put the U.S. back to the top of the leaderboard in IWRF World Rankings.”We are extremely proud of this team and the steps they have made since Japan, ” said Head Coach James Gumbert. It feels great to be back on top and our last win gave the team a great deal of confidence as we move forward in our preparation for Rio.” With all but France and Brazil at this tournament, it was an excellent glimpse at what could be in store in Rio.
Next up for the Americans – training throughout the summer; by late July the team for Rio will be selected. Wheelchair rugby competition will take place from Sept. 14th – 18th at the Carioca Arena 1 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
About USA Wheelchair Rugby
Wheelchair Rugby was invented in Canada in 1977. Originally known as “murderball” because of its intense physical nature, the sport’s name was changed to wheelchair rugby. By 1993 wheelchair rugby was officially recognized as a sport for athletes with disability and the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation was founded. In 1994 Wheelchair Rugby was recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as a Paralympic sport and made its Paralympic debut as a demonstration event in Atlanta in 1996. It became a medal sport in Sydney in 2000, where the United States won the gold medal. In 2013, USA Wheelchair Rugby partnered with USA Rugby in order to collaborate in the growth of Rugby in America.
Lakeshore Foundation, a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site in Birmingham, Alabama, serves as the High Performance Management Organization for USA Wheelchair Rugby under contract with the United States Olympic Committee. With a unique combination of activity, research and advocacy Lakeshore is a leader in their field. Learn more about USA Wheelchair Rugby and Lakeshore Foundation at www.lakeshore.org.
USA Wheelchair Rugby is proudly supported by Liberty Mutual Insurance. Liberty Mutual Insurance is the official property and casualty and life insurance partner of the U.S. Olympic Committee for the 2016 Olympic Games and 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The company also is the proud sponsor and partner of several national governing bodies, including ASA/USA Softball, U.S. Rowing, U.S. Soccer Federation, US Youth Soccer, USA Hockey, USA Volleyball, USA Water Polo and USA Wrestling.
For more information contact Jen Remick at jenr@lakeshore.org or 205.999.4944