Interview: Morecambe wheelchair rugby star targets second Paralympic gold

Monday, 30 May 2022 13:35

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Morecambe's Paralympic gold medal-winning wheelchair rugby star is hungry for more success as he celebrates being awarded an MBE.

Stuart Robinson is gearing up to play for Team GB in the Canada Cup as he sets his sights on retaining the Paralympic title.

Stuart, who became a world class wheelchair athlete after losing both his legs while serving for the Armed Forces in Afghanistan, can't wait to return to international competition later this week and sees it as the start of a path towards triumph in Paris in 2024.

"I think the opportunity to go out there and try to retain the gold medal would be one too hard to turn down," he said.

"I think it's all to easy to rest on your laurels and think 'we've won a gold medal, what else can we achieve now?'

"But for me I think we need to continue to go out there and prove we are the best team in the world, the team to beat. Hopefully we can go out and do that for the next two years and hopefully, for Paris 2024."

Stuart spoke to Beyond Radio just hours before flying out to Canada with the Team GB squad:

In Part 1, Stuart talks about his upcoming tournaments, his thoughts on receiving his MBE, and the injuries he suffered when serving in Afghanistan.

In Part 2, Stuart talks about his wheelchair rugby career, the support of his family, friends and the RAF, targeting a second Paralympic gold, and his advice to people who have suffered adversity in their lives.

Stuart, 40, was recently awarded the MBE by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, at Windsor Castle.

He joked that when he first found out that he'd been recognised in the Queen's New Year's Honours List, he worried that the "official-looking letter" coming through the post might be a speeding ticket!

"Fortunately it wasn't!" he said.

"It was a lovely day, the sun was shining, we got to meet Prince William and got our award. It's such a prestigious award to get."

Stuart, who was born and grew up in the Lancaster and Morecambe district, made the decision to join the RAF at 17 after studying public services at Lancaster and Morecambe College.

He served in Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, but on his fourth deployment to Afghanistan in February 2013, Stuart was severely injured when his patrol vehicle ran over an explosive device.

He was thrown from the vehicle, lost both his legs, suffered multiple fractures to his upper body, and was placed in an induced coma in hospital for 6-7 weeks.

"Waking up in hospital was quite an eye-opener, it took a while to get used to, but I think from then onwards my thoughts were 'I'm still alive' and I kind of clung onto that thought, and let's get on with it, no matter what happens," he said.

"I'm so grateful to still be alive and get on with my life."

During his rehabilitation, Stuart saw an advert for the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.

The father-of-two was a keen sportsman before his injuries, but had no previous experience of wheelchair rugby.

Despite this, he was soon trying out for the GB squad and within 12 months of his injuries, competed at the Games in London in 2014, winning gold.

Since then Stuart won a silver and bronze in subsequent Invictus Games, before graduating to the full Team GB Paralympic squad, winning two European Titles.

He then scored 14 tries in a thrilling final as Great Britain overcame the USA at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.

It was the first ever Paralympics team gold for the Brits, and they were also the first European nation to win any kind of Paralympic medal in wheelchair rugby.

"I remember sitting on the coach on the way to the game and I remember one of my team-mates saying he couldn't believe we were actually going to come away with at least a silver medal," said Stuart.

"For me, this mentality wasn't enough. We had to go out there believing we could win and that we were going to come out with a gold medal. I think that showed from the start. We went out there with the aggression and the tenacity and the belief that we were going to win."

Stuart, who trains at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre in Lancaster, is now looking forward to the Canada Cup and subsequent tournaments in the USA.

"We're really excited to get going and test ourselves against the top nations in the world," he said.

The inspirational sportsman also had a message for others who have experienced adversity in their lives.

"I've found that the best option for not only getting through things and ease the burden sometimes is to talk to people.

"A lot of times for me, it's been things I can't do physically, because I'm in the chair.

"But if you speak to people, ask for their advice and help, they can help you out, and you can help them out as well."

The International Wheelchair Rugby Canada Cup 2022 is taking place in Richmond, Canada at the Richmond Olympic Oval, with seven of the highest-ranked teams worldwide competing – USA, Japan, GB, Australia, France, Canada and Denmark. The competition will take place over four days from June 2 to 5.

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