Andrew Harrison (wheelchair rugby)

Andrew Harrison

2016 Australian Paralympic team portrait of Harrison

Personal information
Nationality| Australian
Born|  (1987-06-07) 7 June 1987 (age 36)
Sport
Country| Australia
Sport| Wheelchair rugby
Disability class| 2.0
Event| Team
Team| Victorian Thunder

Medal record

Wheelchair rugby
Paralympic Games
| 2012 London | Mixed
| 2016 Rio | Mixed
World Championships
|  2010 Vancouver  | Mixed
|  2018 Sydney  | Mixed

Andrew Harrison, OAM (born 7 June 1987) is a wheelchair rugby player. He has won gold medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Paralympics.[1] and competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[2]

## Personal[edit]

Andrew John Harrison was born on 7 June 1987 in Bayswater North, Victoria.[3][4][5][6] At the age of seventeen, he became a quadriplegic as a result of a 2004 diving accident when he jumped head first into a shallow river. He spent time recovering and undergoing physical therapy at Kew's Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre.[4][7] His accident is one of the reasons he was part of a campaign called "Don’t Drink and Dive" which encouraged people to be careful when diving.[7] His hobbies include four-wheelers, cars and off-road buggies, which he can drive despite his injuries.[3][4][8] As of 2021[update], he lives in Bayswater North, Victoria,[8] is a student[4] and works as a Spinchat Coordinator.[5] He is married to Lisa and they have a son Jack who was born on 1 January 2015.

## Wheelchair rugby[edit]

Harrison is a 2.0 point wheelchair rugby player.[3] As of 2012[update], he has a scholarship with the Victorian Institute of Sport.[5]

While Harrison was rehabilitating following his accident, he was visited by a member of the national wheelchair rugby team who encouraged him to try the sport.[4] He made his first Victorian state representative team in 2006, not long after his accident. That year, his Victorian side finished third in the National Wheelchair Rugby League and he was named the rookie of the year. In 2009, he played for the West Coast Enforcers and finished the season being named to the league's all star four. He changed teams and played for Victorian Thunder in 2010, and was again named to the league's all star four. He was with the Victorian side again in 2012.[4][5][9][10][11]

The first time Harrison was invited to a national team training camp was in 2007.[4] He then went on to play in an international match against the New Zealand national wheelchair rugby team that year at the Oceania Regional Championships.[3][5] While he was considered for the 2008 Summer Paralympics, he was ultimately not selected.[4] Following this brief appearance, he did not make the national team again until 2010 when he was a member of the team at the Four Nations Tournament.[3] That year, he was also a member of the Australian team that competed at the World Championships.[4] Wearing jersey number 15, he represented Australia at the 2012 Canada Cup.[8] In May 2012, he participated in a test series against Japan in Sydney.[12] He scored four goals in the fourth game which Australia won 47 – 44, and two goals in the fifth game where Australia won 61 – 55.[13] He was selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in wheelchair rugby.[3] Going into London, his team was ranked second in the world behind the United States.[14] He was part of the team that won the gold medal.[15] The Australian team went through the five-day tournament undefeated.[16]

He was a member of the team that retained its gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics after defeating the United States 59–58 in the final.[17]

At the 2018 IWRF World Championship in Sydney, Australia, he was a member of the Australian team that won the silver medal after being defeated by Japan 61–62 in the gold medal game.[18]

In 2020, he is the captain of the Power House Wheelchair Rugby Club in Victoria.[19]

At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, the Steelers finished fourth after being defeated by Japan 52–60 in the bronze medal game. COVID travel restrictions led to Steelers not having a team training since March 2020 prior to Tokyo.[20]

He was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the 2014 Australia Day Honours "for service to sport as a Gold Medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games."[6]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Steelers aim to maintain their reign in Rio". Australian Paralympic Committee News. 25 July 2016. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
2. ^ "Steelers Eyeing Paralympic History… Again". Paralympics Australia. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
3. ^ a b c d e f "Andrew Harrison". Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2012. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Andrew Harrison" (PDF). Australia: Independence Australia. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
5. ^ a b c d e "Andrew Harrison". Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS). 6 July 1987. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
6. ^ a b "Australia Day honours list 2014: in full". The Daily Telegraph. 26 January 2014. Archived from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
7. ^ a b Carmona, Bianca. "Summer diving warning from Kew rehab patient". Progress Leader. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
8. ^ a b c "Australia". Coupe Canada Cup 2012. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
9. ^ "NWRL Award History - National Wheelchair Rugby League". SportingPulse. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
10. ^ "Teams". Wheelchair Rugby Australia. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
11. ^ Humpage, Ami. "Paralympic hopefuls set rugby wheels in motion". Brimbank Leader. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
12. ^ Michelmore, Karen (4 May 2012). "Australia's Steelers smash and crash their way to London -". ABC Sydney - Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
13. ^ "International Wheelchair Rugby Federation : News". IWRF. 5 May 2012. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
14. ^ "Hose realises London dream". Camperdown Chronicle. 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
15. ^ "Mixed Wheelchair Rugby - Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby". Official site of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
16. ^ "Batt stars as Australia win gold". Official site of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 9 September 2012. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
17. ^ Lees, Chris (19 September 2016). "Steelers double up with Paralympics gold". Sunshine Coast Daily. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
18. ^ "Results". IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championships website. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
19. ^ "Andrew Harrison Wheelchair Rugby". Rugby Victoria. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
20. ^ "Australia names wheelchair rugby team of 12 for Tokyo 2020". Inside The Games. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.

## External links[edit]

* Andrew Harrison at Paralympics Australia
* Andrew Harrison at the International Paralympic Committee

* v
* t
* e

2016 Australian Paralympic Team

Head coaches shown in italics

Archery|

* Jonathon Milne

Athletics|

* Sam Carter
* Aaron Chatman
* Jaryd Clifford
* Gabriel Cole
* Richard Colman
* Brayden Davidson
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* Russell Short
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* Louise Ellery
* Nicole Harris
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Boccia|

* Daniel Michel
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Cycling|

* Kyle Bridgwood
* Carol Cooke
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* Matthew Formston
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* Madison Janssen (pilot)
* Simone Kennedy
* Alexandra Lisney
* Kieran Modra
* David Nicholas
* Amanda Reid
* Susan Powell
* Stuart Tripp
* Nick Yallouris (pilot)

Equestrian|

* Emma Booth
* Sharon Jarvis
* Lisa Martin
* Katie Umback

Goalball|

* Jennifer Blow
* Nicole Esdaile
* Meica Horsburgh
* Raissa Martin
* Michelle Rzepecki
* Tyan Taylor
* Peter Corr

Paracanoe|

* Dylan Littlehales
* Curtis McGrath
* Colin Sieders
* Jocelyn Neumueller
* Amanda Reynolds
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Paratriathlon|

* Nic Beveridge
* Bill Chaffey
* Brant Garvey
* Kate Doughty
* Katie Kelly
* Michellie Jones (guide)
* Claire McLean

Rowing|

* Gavin Bellis
* Erik Horrie
* Brock Ingram
* Jeremy McGrath
* Josephine Burnand
* Davinia Lefroy
* Kathleen Murdoch
* Kathryn Ross

Sailing|

* Matthew Bugg
* Daniel Fitzgibbon
* Liesl Tesch
* Russell Boaden
* Colin Harrison
* Jonathan Harris

Shooting|

* Luke Cain
* Bradley Mark
* Chris Pitt
* Anton Zappelli
* Libby Kosmala
* Natalie Smith
* Miro Sipek

Swimming|

* Joshua Alford
* Michael Anderson
* Jesse Aungles
* Liam Bekric
* Blake Cochrane
* Rowan Crothers
* Timothy Disken
* Daniel Fox
* Matthew Haanappel
* Brenden Hall
* Guy Harrison-Murray
* Timothy Hodge
* Braedan Jason
* Ahmed Kelly
* Matthew Levy
* Jeremy McClure
* Rick Pendleton
* Logan Powell
* Sean Russo
* Liam Schluter
* Jacob Templeton
* Emily Beecroft
* Ellie Cole
* Katja Dedekind
* Maddison Elliott
* Tanya Huebner
* Jenna Jones
* Paige Leonhardt
* Ashleigh McConnell
* Monique Murphy
* Lakeisha Patterson
* Madeleine Scott
* Tiffany Thomas Kane
* Rachael Watson
* Prue Watt
* Kate Wilson
* Brendan Keogh

Table tennis|

* Barak Mizrachi
* Samuel Von Einem
* Daniela Di Toro
* Melissa Tapper
* Andrea McDonnell

Wheelchair basketball|

* Josh Allison
* Jannik Blair
* Adam Deans
* Tristan Knowles
* Bill Latham
* Matthew McShane
* Brad Ness
* Shaun Norris
* Tom O'Neill-Thorne
* Shawn Russell
* Tige Simmons
* Brett Stibners
* Ben Ettridge

Wheelchair rugby|

* Ryley Batt
* Chris Bond
* Cameron Carr
* Andrew Edmondson
* Nazim Erdem
* Ben Fawcett
* Andrew Harrison
* Josh Hose
* Jason Lees
* Matt Lewis
* Ryan Scott
* Jayden Warn
* Brad Dubberley

Wheelchair tennis|

* Dylan Alcott
* Heath Davidson
* Adam Kellerman
* Ben Weekes
* Sarah Calati

* v
* t
* e

2012 Australian Paralympic Team

Head coaches shown in italics

Athletics|

* Nathan Arkley
* Damien Bowen
* Matthew Cameron
* Richard Colman
* Kurt Fearnley
* Sam Harding
* Todd Hodgetts
* Jake Lappin
* Hamish MacDonald
* Richard Nicholson
* Evan O'Hanlon
* Rheed McCracken
* Sam McIntosh
* Simon Patmore
* Scott Reardon
* Michael Roeger
* Brad Scott
* Russell Short
* Matthew Silcocks
* Tim Sullivan
* Lindsay Sutton
* Jack Swift
* Angie Ballard
* Carlee Beattie
* Georgia Beikoff
* Kelly Cartwright
* Gabriel Cole
* Christie Dawes
* Madison de Rozario
* Rachael Dodds
* Jodi Elkington
* Louise Ellery
* Michelle Errichiello
* Jessica Gallagher
* Madeleine Hogan
* Torita Isaac
* Rosemary Little
* Brydee Moore
* Katy Parrish
* Kristy Pond
* Kath Proudfoot
* Stephanie Schweitzer
* Erinn Walters

Cycling|

* Nigel Barley
* Michael Gallagher
* Bryce Lindores
* Kieran Modra
* David Nicholas
* Stuart Tripp
* Sean Finning
* Scott McPhee
* Carol Cooke
* Alexandra Green
* Felicity Johnson
* Simone Kennedy
* Jayme Paris
* Susan Powell
* Stephanie Morton

Equestrian|

* Grace Bowman
* Hannah Dodd
* Joann Formosa
* Rob Oakley

Goalball|

* Jennifer Blow
* Meica Christensen
* Tyan Taylor
* Nicole Esdaile
* Rachel Henderson
* Michelle Rzepecki
* Georgina Kenaghan

Powerlifting|

* Darren Gardiner
* Abebe Fekadu
* Ray Epstein

Rowing|

* Erik Horrie
* Gavin Bellis
* Kathryn Ross

Sailing|

* Matthew Bugg
* Daniel Fitzgibbon
* Liesl Tesch
* Colin Harrison
* Stephen Churm
* Jonathan Harris

Shooting|

* Ashley Adams
* Luke Cain
* Jason Maroney
* Bradley Mark
* Libby Kosmala
* Natalie Smith
* Miro Sipek

Swimming|

* Michael Anderson
* Tim Antalfy
* Michael Auprince
* Blake Cochrane
* Taylor Corry
* Matt Cowdrey
* Jay Dohnt
* Richard Eliason
* Daniel Fox
* Matthew Haanappel
* Brenden Hall
* Ahmed Kelly
* Mitchell Kilduff
* Matt Levy
* Jeremy McClure
* Andrew Pasterfield
* Grant Patterson
* Rick Pendleton
* Aaron Rhind
* Sean Russo
* Reagan Wickens
* Kayla Clarke
* Ellie Cole
* Katherine Downie
* Maddison Elliott
* Amanda Fowler
* Jacqueline Freney
* Tanya Huebner
* Kara Leo
* Esther Overton
* Katrina Porter
* Sarah Rose
* Teigan Van Roosmalen
* Prue Watt
* Annabelle Williams

Table tennis|

* Melissa Tapper
* Rebecca McDonnell

Wheelchair basketball|

* Dylan Alcott
* Jannik Blair
* Justin Eveson
* Michael Hartnett
* Tristan Knowles
* Bill Latham
* Grant Mizens
* Brad Ness
* Shaun Norris
* Tige Simmons
* Brett Stibners
* Nick Taylor
* Amanda Carter
* Shelley Chaplin
* Cobi Crispin
* Leanne Del Toso
* Kylie Gauci
* Katie Hill
* Bridie Kean
* Tina McKenzie
* Amber Merritt
* Clare Nott
* Sarah Stewart
* Sarah Vinci
* John Triscari

Wheelchair rugby|

* Nazim Erdem
* Ryan Scott
* Jason Lees
* Cameron Carr
* Andrew Harrison
* Greg Smith
* Cody Meakin
* Josh Hose
* Ben Newton
* Ryley Batt
* Chris Bond
* Brad Dubberley

Wheelchair tennis|

* Ben Weekes
* Adam Kellerman
* Daniela Di Toro
* Janel Manns
* Greg Crump

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