Paralympics: Women’s Wheelchair Basketball

The 2008 Paralympics began on September 6th and are set to wrap up next Wednesday on the 17th. Athletes from around the world have come together in Beijing to compete. So far China is one of the leaders with over 100 Gold Medals thus far, but people from all around the world are winning big, including many from the United States.

There are many heroes at this year’s Paralympics and among them are the United States Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team. As they took the court on Tuesday, they were facing the Australian team, which defeated them at the last Paralympics.

By halftime, the U.S. Team had a ten point lead and they continued their aggressive push during the second half. In order to keep up momentum and tire out their opponents the head coach of the team, Ron Lykins, generously rotated players on and off the court.

Jennifer Ruddell, from Georgia, and Stephanie Wheeler, from North Carolina, lead the team in points with 18 and 11 points respectively. The United States team defeated Australia 61 to 42.

While this was a big achievement and added another chapter to the rivalry between the U.S. Team and the Australian Team, this was only a preliminary round of the tournament. The next night, the United States team continued their aggressive push and defeated the Brazilian team 68 to 38. After defeating the Brazilian Team on Wednesday the United States team has announced to the quarterfinals which are set to take place on Friday.

It is not only the United States Basketball team that is making waves. So far the United States has received a total of 56 medals including 23 gold’s.