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  • Writer's pictureThe British Polio Fellowship

ParalympicsGB win silver medal in wheelchair basketball final

Polio survivor and member of the British Polio Fellowship, Peter Cusack was part in the Great Britain’s wheelchair basketball team which won a Silver medal at the Paralympics in Paris this year.


The GB team took on reigning champions, the US on 7 September in an exciting final, fighting back from 12 points down only to lose 73-69.


The US team has won the Gold medal for men's wheelchair basketball, three times in a row.

Captained by Welshman Phil Pratt the GB team has achieved the nation’s best result in the sport in 28 years. The last time Britain made it to the final was in 1996 when three of the current squad (including Peter) weren’t even born. On that occasion they lost to Australia 78-63.


This time however it felt quite different and a big 71-43 win over Germany fueled hopes they could go further.


USA had led by 12 points at one stage but a late push by GB made for a close finish. But sadly they had left it too late, with too much to do. The final result didn’t go Britain’s way but it did at least mark the coming-of-age of some talented players, one in particular being Peter Cusack.


"It was the best two weeks of my life!" commented Cusack.


And what is next for Peter? "I am returning to Spain and hoping for a good season with my club UCAM Murcia in the 2024-2025 BSR Espana SuperLiga.


"With GB there will be European Championships next summer so I shall be aiming for selection and preparing for that. Longer term, we will be looking to go one better by getting a gold medal in the Paralympics in Los Angeles 2028!"



Photo source: British Wheelchair Basketball Instagram


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