SHAUN NORRIS

Sport: Wheelchair Basketball

Sport Classification: 3.0

International Debut: 2002

Place of Birth / Residence: Perth, WA

In October 1989, when 4 years old Shaun was hit by a car, breaking his right leg and causing several grazes. He bounced off the bonnet which stretched his spinal cord, and became a paraplegic. When 9 years old, Shaun became a member of the local swimming club in Wongan Hills. Swimming against able bodied people, his Mum saw an advertisement for a competition for people with disabilities and entered Shaun. At that meet, Shaun won 4 gold and 3 silver medals broke 2 National Records.

Not long after this competition Shaun and his family moved to Perth and became members of Wheelchair Sports WA, playing basketball in the local competition. Shaun has played at the Junior National Wheelchair games since 1997, selected in the Australian Junior All Star 5 since 2000 for Basketball. In 2001, the Perth Wheelcats were born, competing in the National Wheelchair Basketball League (NWBL).

Shaun excelled in Basketball and quickly gained a position in the starting 5 for the competition. Shaun is now in his fourth year in the league. 2002 saw Shaun win the Most Improved Player award and also the Most Valuable Player for the final series which the Perth Wheelcats won for the first time ever. 2004 saw Shaun travel to Penrith for his final Junior Championship, guiding WA to the gold medal, winning the MVP and scoring 38 points in the Australia vs USA match. Shaun also was a member of the Australian Paralympic Men's team which qualified to compete in Athens 2004 Paralympics.

At just 19 years old, Shaun has now been in the Australian Paralympic Basketball team for the past 2 years and has travelled to different places to compete. 2004 will see Shaun travel with the Australian team for a month to the USA, preparing for Athens in September. Shaun's goals are to be the best he can, continue to be on the Australian team and compete in Athens and beyond.