Michael Quinn (paralympian)

Michael Quinn
Personal information
Nationality  Australia

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

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]

Queenslanders in the Australian team for the 1984 Summer Paralympics in Stoke Mandeville. From left to right – Mike Nugent, Robert McIntyre, Michael Quinn, Carmel Williams, Roy Fowler, Susan Davies, Alan Dufty, Kerri-Anne Connor, Peter Marsh, and Ken Moran

He competed at the 1984 Stoke Mandeville Games in athletics and swimming. He won a silver medal in the athletics Men's 4 x 200 m 1A-1C and bronze medals in athletics Men's 4 x 100m 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. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 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. Sep–Oct 1984.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "M.Quinn". International Paralympic Committee Historical Results Database. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  4. Rogan, Jenny (26 November 1992). "Michael makes sporting history". Northern News.