World Wheelchair Rugby

Tokyo 2020 countdown get to know… Jon Corson, Head Official Tokyo Paralympics

Wheelchair Rugby provides a ton of fun and excitement to fans watching matches. But to those involved with the sport, it provides so much more. When you talk to the players, coaches and support staff, they all say the same thing–wheelchair rugby is family.

Here are the stories of those who bring the game to life.

Jon Corson

  • Vice Chair WWR Technical Committee
  • Head Official Tokyo Paralympics
  • Assistant Technical Delegate 2022 World Championships

Jon Corson is currently the Assistant Head of the WWR Technical Committee.  He has held various positions within the WWR including a rules committee member, Asia-Oceania Zone Technical Commissioner and Acting President Asia-Oceania. In Tokyo, Jon will serve as the Head Official for the Tokyo Paralympic Games and later, as the Assistant Technical Delegate for the 2022 World Championships in Denmark. Jon will head up the officiating team at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Wheelchair Rugby Tournament.

WWR:  How did you first get involved with wheelchair rugby?

Corson: I was first introduced to wheelchair rugby at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney. I watched the opening session to see what it was like and I was hooked! I ended up attending every session thereafter. When I moved to Brisbane, Australia the following year I volunteered with Sporting Wheelies where I was asked to help out refereeing.

WWR: What excited you about the sport?

Corson: The physical nature of the sport, with its full contact and the determination of those involved.

WWR: What do you like the most?

Corson: While the contact and physicality of the sport attracted me, it is the global friendships and nature of the wider sporting family that makes this sport one that I love.

WWR: What are you looking forward to in Tokyo?

Corson: Leading up to the Tokyo games the teams have become a lot closer in their competitiveness. This means all games at the tournament will be key and Tokyo 2020 could see a newcomer to the Paralympic Podium.

WWR: What would you tell people who’ve never seen the sport before?

Corson: Watch a game and be prepared to be energised. This game gets under your skin, challenges your mindset and is brutally contact oriented. Be prepared for winning at all costs.

WWR: What do you see for the future of the sport? For the future of WWR?

Corson: We have just changed our name to World Wheelchair Rugby with a new website and brand designed to showcase our athletes and continue growing our global family in all areas. We are the first sport to sell out to packed stadiums at Paralympics and want to bring rugby to all parts of the globe – it is a team sport that gives as much off court as on to those involved.

Tokyo 2020 countdown get to know… Joel Delagrave, USA

Paralympic Experience

  • Two-time Paralympian (2012, 2016); Two-time medalist (1 bronze, 1 silver)
  • London 2012 Paralympic Games, bronze
  • Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, alternate

World Championship Experience

  • Most recent: 2018 – bronze
  • Years of participation: 2010, 2014, 2018
  • Medals: 3 (1 gold, 2 bronze)
  • Gold – 2010; Bronze – 2014, 2018

Joe Delagrave, who is a keynote speaker and coach of navy wounded warriors wheelchair rugby program, first learned about wheelchair rugby by searching for sports for quads. Then while watching the Beijing Paralympic Games, I realized it was a Paralympic sport. He decided then to make that his goal. Two years later he competed at the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships in Vancouver, Canada, where the U.S. won gold. Joe made his first Paralympic team at the 2012 Games in London.

How does an elite Paralympic athlete pack for competitions? We asked Joe Delagrave to share his tips for packing.

Joe Delagrave’s Pro tips for packing:

First, have your wife or significant other do it. Haha, just kidding.

For real though.

No. 1. I have a rectangular electronics bag that is small enough to fit in my backpack. I have all my cords and chargers in one spot, and it takes the headache out of forgetting to bring that one cord.

No. 2. I’m not a checklist guy, nope. However, I will run through my head what I have in three different areas. 1-My rugby gear, 2-My apparel for rugby, and 3-My clothes.

No. 3. I lay everything all out first before putting it into a suitcase. This way I can see everything I’ll put in there instead of being halfway through and thinking… ‘Did I actually put that in there?’

P.S. I always forget something 😂

Check out more packing hacks and mistakes to avoid from these Travel + Leisure videos.

Tokyo 2020 countdown get to know… Hitoshi Ogawa, Japan

Paralympic Experience

  • Paralympic debut (2020)

World Championship Experience

  • None

Bio

At the age of 18, Hitoshi Ogawa fell during a motocross race and damaged his cervical spinal cord. While in the hospital, he got to know about wheelchair rugby and was selected for a Japanese team training camp at the age of 23. He is blessed with a good physique, and his power and speed are his strong points, as well as his passing skills. He was hospitalised at the same time as Shunya Nakamachi, who is also a Japanese team member of the same age, and it was Ogawa who invited him to play. They work together as the next generation of young players to take the Japanese team to the next level.

Favourite athlete: Yuui Hoshino (Motocross), Gota Otsuka (Motocross)
iPhone or Android?  iPhone
Twitter or Instagram? Instagram
Cats or dogs? Dog
Last country visited: South Korea
Favourite world landmark: None
Favourite cartoon character: Stitch
Favourite superhero: None
Beach or mountains? Beach
Favourite Actor / Actress? Takayuki Yamada (Actor/Japan)
Favourite all time movie: None
Favourite sporting team: None
Favourite athlete: None

Most used App: Instagram
Last app you downloaded: SUMO
Favourite video game: MX vs ATV
Favourite snack: Butamen (packed dried noodle)

Highlight of your sporting career? Inbound miss at the 2019 AOZ.

Favourite subject in school: Math
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? None
If you could have a chat with anyone, dead or alive, who would you select? Grandmother (already passed away)

Tokyo 2020 countdown get to know… Jamie Stead, Team GB

Paralympic Experience

  • Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, 5th place

World Championship Experience

  • Most recent: 2019
  • Years of participation: 2015, 2017, 2019
  • Medals: 3 Gold

BIO

As a keen sportsman, Jamie tried a number of sports before settling on wheelchair rugby.

He made his international debut at the Canada cup in 2014 and has gone on to represent GB at European and World level, returning from the European Championships in Finland with a gold medal. Jamie made his Paralympic debut at the 2016 Rio Paralympic games where he was an integral member of the team.

Jamie has continued to grow as a player and was a key part of the squad’s success defending their title at the 2017 European championships.

Aaron’s Workout playlist —

1. Zombie, Bad Wolves

2. Killing in the Name, Rage Against the Machine

3. Lose Yourself, Eminem

4. Too Many Man, Skepta

5. Come With Me, Special D

Favorite athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo  

iPhone or Android?  Android

Twitter or Instagram?  Twitter

Cats or dogs?  Dogs

Last country visited: Japan

Favorite world landmark: Christ the Redeemer

What is on their walls at home? Paint and wallpaper

Favorite superhero: Thor

Beach or mountains? Beach

Favorite Actor / Actress?  Adam Sandler

Favorite all time movie: Rocky 3

Favorite football team: Manchester United

Favorite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo

Most used App:  WhatsApp

Last App you downloaded:  OCHA

Favorite video game:   GTA 5

Favorite anime character: Ash Ketchum

Which would you rather win — a Grammy or an Oscar?  Grammy

Favorite subject in school:  Physical education

What three words describe you?  Athlete, funny, rainman

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?  If you have to ask if it’s okay it’s probably not

Tokyo 2020 countdown get to know… Jonathan Hivernat, France

World Championship Experience

  • Most recent: 2018
  • Years of participation: 2018

European Championship Experience

  • Most recent: 2019
  • Years of participation: 2019
  • Medals: 1 silver

Bio:

Jonathan, born in Figeac in 1991, discovered wheelchair rugby in 2010 at a demonstration. After seeing the energy of the players, Jonathan was hooked the same day and he’s never left. He met three people that day, who were decisive for his sporting future: Nicolas Costes, the coach, Pablo Neuman, player and president of the club and Olivier Cusin, coach of the French wheelchair rugby team. After a year of wheelchair rugby practice, Jonathan made an impression during the French Championships. Today, he is one of the best European and international players, captain of Stade Toulousain Rugby Handisport since 2012 and captain of the French wheelchair rugby team since 2015.

Favorite athlete: Roger Federer

iPhone or Android? Android 

Twitter or Instagram? Instagram

Cats or dogs? Cats

Last country visited: Britain

Favorite cartoon character: Bugs Bunny

Favorite superhero: Batman  

Beach or mountains? Beach

Favorite Actor / Actress? Pierce Brosnan

Favorite all time movie: Untouchable

Favorite football team: Chelsea

Favorite football player: N’Golo Kante

Most used App: Instagram

Last App you downloaded: Kahoot!

Favorite video game: Gran Turismo 7

Favorite anime character: Olive and Tom

Which would you rather win — a Grammy or an Oscar? Oscar

Favorite subject in school: Mathematics

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? You have to know how to give yourself the means to be able to give yourself the chance to succeed and especially to fully live the present moment without feeling remorse.

Tokyo 2020 countdown get to know… Christophe Salegui, France

World Championship Experience

  • Most recent: 2018
  • Years of participation: 2018

European Championship Experience

  • Most recent: 2019
  • Years of participation: 2017, 2017, 2019
  • Medals: 1 silver

Bio:

Favourite training music:

I love Brazilian music because it is my favorite country and culture.  I’ve already been there five times. My favorite song ever is «Sabanas Blancas» from Omi Hernandez.”

Top 4 Favorite Artists:

  • Thiago Brava
  • Zé Neto
  • Gabriel Diniz
  • Omi Hernandez

Favorite athlete: My favorite athlete is Ryley Batt, for a few reasons. He is the best rugby player ever but more, he is the rugby player who is the most nice and humble in the rugby world! It’s very easy to speak and spend time with him.

iPhone or Android? iPhone

Twitter or Instagram? Instagram

Cats or dogs? Dogs

Last country visited: Brazil

Favorite superhero: Wolverine  

Beach or mountains? Beach

Favorite Actor / Actress? Will Smith

Favorite all time movie: Collateral Beauty

Favorite football team: Olympique de Marseille

Favorite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo

Most used App: Instagram

Last App you downloaded: Olympic!

Favorite video game: FIFA

Favorite anime character: Olive et Tom

Which would you rather win — a Grammy or an Oscar? Grammy

Favorite subject in school: Mathematics

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Never respect someone who don’t respect you 

If you could have a chat with anyone, dead or alive, who would you select? Michael Jordan, Will Smith and Michelle Rodriguez

Tokyo 2020 countdown get to know… Patrice ‘Pico’ Dagenais, Canada

Paralympic Experience

  • Two-time Paralympian (2012, 2016); One-time medalist (1 silver)
  • Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
  • London 2012 Paralympic Games, silver

World Championship Experience

  • Most recent: 2018
  • Years of participation: 2010, 2014, 2018
  • Medals: 1 silver
  • Silver – 2014

BIO:

Patrice “Pico” Dagenais is the co-captain of Team Canada along with Trevor Hirschfield. He is known as a hard-working, intelligent player. He comes from a strong hockey background. Before he acquired a spinal cord injury in a construction accident, he played Jr. C hockey for St-Isadore and won three consecutive gold medals with his high school hockey team, the Embrun Cyclones.

His ability to excel within wheelchair rugby has enabled him to realize his dreams of competing at the highest level. In 2012, he was invited to join the national wheelchair rugby team and represent Canada at the Paralympic Games, where he won a silver medal. Patrice would later go on to capture gold at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games and compete at a second Paralympic Summer Games in 2016.

In 2019 and 2020, Dagenais’ experience shined through again as Canada took silver at the Parapan Games and earned a spot for Tokyo at the Paralympic Games qualifier in Richmond, B.C.

Off the court, Dagenais is very active in giving back to the community. He often visits public schools and rehabilitation centres, in order to speak about his life experiences, in an effort to motivate people to be active, as well as to act as an advocate for athletes with a disability.

Patrice ‘Pico’ Dagenais nickname: Pico

Favourite binge show: Brooklyn Nine-Nine          

Guilty pleasure snack: Lindt Chocolate

Favourite sports team: Montreal Canadiens

Least favourite class in school: Math

Tokyo 2020 get to now… Chris Bond, Australia

Bio

Before Chris Bond was an international wheelchair rugby star, he was a 19-year-old battling acute promyelocytic leukaemia. He survived, but lost his left hand, right fingers and legs below the knees to a bacterial infection. Bond is now one of the best 3.5 wheelchair rugby players in the world. On debut at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, he helped lead the Australians to their first Paralympic gold medal, and matched this effort in 2014 at the World Championship in Odense, Denmark, where they won their first world title. Bond made history once again when the Steelers became the first wheelchair rugby team to win two consecutive Paralympic gold medals and a World Championship title in a four-year period. As favourites to win gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, they did not disappoint. They set up a gold medal showdown with the USA, and in a match that will be remembered by fans for years to come, defeated their perennial rivals 59-58 in a double-overtime thriller.

Favourite athlete: Ryley Batt

iPhone or Android? iPhone

Twitter or Instagram? Instagram

Cats or dogs? Dogs

Last country visited: Japan

Favourite world landmark: Uluru

Favourite cartoon character: Jay (Big Mouth)

Favourite superhero: Thor

Beach or mountains? Mountains

Favourite Actor / Actress? Rik Mayall

Favourite all time movie: Guest House Paradiso

Favourite sporting team: Canberra Raiders

Most used app: Podcasts

Last app you downloaded: Teamapp

Favourite video game: Call of Duty

Favourite snack: Strawberries

Highlight of your sporting career? Paralympic gold medal (London 2012 and Rio 2016)

Favourite subject in school: PE

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Don’t focus on things out of your control.

If you could have a chat with anyone, dead or alive, who would you select? My grandfathers who have now passed away

Tokyo 2020 countdown get to know… Josh Hose, Australia

When he’s not training or competing, Josh is an accomplished motivational speaker, delivering messages to businesses, schools and community groups about road safety, setting goals, and overcoming barriers to success.

Favourite athlete: Kobe Bryant

iPhone or Android? iPhone

Twitter or Instagram? Instagram

Cats or dogs? Dogs

Last country visited: New Zealand

Favourite world landmark: Uluru

Favourite cartoon character: Bart Simpson

Favourite superhero: Batman

Beach or mountains? Beach

Favourite Actor / Actress? Liam Neeson

Favourite all time movie: John Wick

Favourite sporting team: Essendon Bombers

Most used app: Instagram

Last app you downloaded: OCHA

Favourite video game: GTA

Favourite snack: Banana

Highlight of your sporting career? London 2012

Favourite subject in school: Woodwork

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Do what you enjoy

If you could have a chat with anyone, dead or alive, who would you select? Kobe Bryant

When he’s not training or competing, Josh is an accomplished motivational speaker, delivering messages to businesses, schools and community groups about road safety, setting goals, and overcoming barriers to success.

Favourite athlete: Kobe Bryant

iPhone or Android? iPhone

Twitter or Instagram? Instagram

Cats or dogs? Dogs

Last country visited: New Zealand

Favourite world landmark: Uluru

Favourite cartoon character: Bart Simpson

Favourite superhero: Batman

Beach or mountains? Beach

Favourite Actor / Actress? Liam Neeson

Favourite all time movie: John Wick

Favourite sporting team: Essendon Bombers

Most used app: Instagram

Last app you downloaded: OCHA

Favourite video game: GTA

Favourite snack: Banana

Highlight of your sporting career? London 2012

Favourite subject in school: Woodwork

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Do what you enjoy

If you could have a chat with anyone, dead or alive, who would you select? Kobe Bryant

Tokyo 2020 countdown get to know… Richard Voris, Australia

Paralympic Experience

  • Paralympic debut (2020)

World Championship Experience

  • None

Bio

Richard Voris is on the verge of representing Australia at his first Paralympic Games. Voris’ journey to the Paralympics has not been an easy one – even by a Para-athlete’s standards. In 2016, while his teammates were defending their Paralympic gold medal from 2012, he contracted an autoimmune disease called myasthenia gravis. He lost all function in his body – so much so, he couldn’t open his eyes for eight months – and from then on, was unable to achieve any consistency in his training. Voris said that becoming a Paralympian is all he dreams about, and as he struggles to contain his myasthenia gravis, the thought of potentially achieving selection to the Australian team for Tokyo 2020 was what spurred him on.

Favourite athlete: David Beckham

iPhone or Android? Android

Twitter or Instagram? Instagram

Cats or dogs? Dogs

Last country visited: England

Favourite world landmark: Old Trafford

Favourite cartoon character: Rick

Favourite superhero: Spiderman

Beach or mountains? Beach

Favourite Actor / Actress? Denzel Washington

Favourite all time movie: American Gangster

Favourite sporting team: Manchester United

Most used app: Instagram

Last app you downloaded: OCHA

Favourite video game: GTA

Favourite snack: Beef jerky

Highlight of your sporting career? Tokyo 2020

Favourite subject in school: Woodwork

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Failure is a bruise, not a tattoo.

If you could have a chat with anyone, dead or alive, who would you select? Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Welcome to World Wheelchair Rugby. We are the official worldwide governing body of wheelchair rugby. Contact us for more information.

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