American Chuck Aoki played 11 years of wheelchair basketball before he switched over to wheelchair rugby in high school after seeing the film, “Murderball.”

He was attracted to the game by its constructive physicality and the brutal nature of the sport, and in no time found his niche as the USA’s top 3.5 player. He was named the US Quad Rugby Association’s Athlete of the Year in 2011, and then he helped his team to a bronze medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Following that performance, he had the chance to meet President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington DC.

Aoki has used a wheelchair for most of his life due to a genetic condition in which he cannot feel anything below his knees, and when not on the court is studying to become a high school teacher.

He has quickly become well versed among the world’s media and recently helped the USA regain the world No. 1 ranking by leading the team to the title at the 2013 Denmark Wheelchair Rugby Challenge.

Athlete, Paralysis, Motivational, Sports Motivation, Inspirational, Disability, Sports