From the RAF to Wheelchair Rugby Gold

Training for elite sport in lockdown has been a challenge. But when you are preparing for wheelchair rugby at the Tokyo Paralympics, it takes discipline and ingenuity to a new level.

Former Royal Air Force gunner Stuart Robinson flew out to Tokyo on Tuesday 17 August with the Great Britain squad after testing his improvisation skills to the limit.

The 39-year-old even fixed archery targets to his garage doors to sharpen up his passing accuracy and used the road outside his home to drill for the sudden bursts needed for the gruelling sport.

“I went on eBay to get the targets and although the neighbours weren’t that pleased by the sound of the rugby ball on the garage doors, they have been very understanding and supportive,” said Stuart, who is a member of Blesma, The Limbless Veterans.

“We’ve been preparing for Tokyo 2020 for five years but during lockdowns, we have not been able to get together as a squad so you have to devise ways to adapt your training to keep it fresh.

“We’ve managed to get in some sessions together recently and had a tournament against Denmark and France and followed that with a final training camp at Lilleshall before flying out. We can’t wait for the competition to start.”

Stuart, who was severely injured by an improvised explosive device on operations with the RAF Regiment in Afghanistan in 2013, found a path into elite sport while rehabbing at Headley Court from his life changing injuries. He became a key member of the GB wheelchair rugby squad that won a gold medal at the 2014 Invictus Games in London and attended the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games as part of the Paralympic inspiration programme.

Members of the 12-strong squad were presented with special Team GB caps to mark their Paralympic selection at a ceremony before leaving for Japan and their group games which begin with a match-up against Canada on Wednesday.

GB, who came away champions at the European Championship, also face the USA and New Zealand in Pool B while reigning Paralympic champions Australia are in Pool A with Japan, France and Denmark.

“It is traditional in rugby to get a cap for playing internationally so it was great that it has been adopted for wheelchair rugby too,” added Stuart, from Morecambe, Lancashire, who served in the RAF for 14 years.

“I was very proud to serve in the military and have the Union Jack on my sleeve so being able to wear that again is a huge achievement and honour. I’m proud and privileged to be representing GB and to be part of something that will leave a legacy helping others to get into sport.

“My family will be cheering me on, I know, and my kids George and Amelia, who are 11 and 5-years-old, have designed a couple for posters to wish me luck. It is going to be an incredible experience.

“The competition will be tough but we are ready for the challenge and will give it everything. The sport has given me so much after leaving the military and the camaraderie and teamwork that goes with it and I hope our efforts at the Paralympics will introduce the sport to other injured veterans.”

A huge congratulations to Stuart and the team on winning gold at the Tokyo Paralympics