Michael Quinn (Paralympian)

Michael Mike Quinn is an Australian Paralympic athletics, swimming and snooker competitor.

Michael Quinn

Personal information
Nationality	Australia
Medal record Paralympic Games Athletics 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Men's 4 x 200m Relay 1A-1C 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Men's Slalom 1B 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Men's 4 x 100m Relay 1A-1C Swimming 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Men's 3 x 25m Freestyle Relay 1A-1C

In 1972, at the age of 19, a car accident left him a quadriplegic.[1] Before the accident, he played in the Brisbane schoolboy rugby union team and was junior belt champion for the Bribie Island Surf Life Saving Club.[1] While he was in hospital, Roy Fowler, an Australian Paralympian was in the bed next to him having his kidney removed.[1] Fowler encouraged him to stay involved in sport.[1] Nine months after the accident, he was competing in wheelchair sports events.[1]

He competed at the 1984 Stoke Mandeville Games in athletics and swimming. He won a silver medal in the athletics Men's 4 × 200 m 1A-1C and bronze medals in athletics Men's 4 × 100 m Relay 1A-1C, Men's Slalom IB, and swimming Men's 3 x 25m Freestyle Relay 1A-1C.[2][3] After the Games, he dedicated himself to snooker as it was the only sport that allowed him to compete against able-bodied people.[1] He competed in snooker at the 1988 Seoul Paralympics.[3] In 1992, he was selected in the first Australian wheelchair rugby team to compete in an international tournament.[4]

References

1. Hansen, Bryan (22 May 1988). "Wheelie snooker champ pots gold". Sunday Sun (Sun Magazine).
2. "VII World Wheelchair Games". Magazine of Disabled Events (M.O.D.E): 4. September–October 1984.
3. "M.Quinn". International Paralympic Committee Historical Results Database. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
4. Rogan, Jenny (26 November 1992). "Michael makes sporting history". Northern News.