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Jack Smith (wheelchair rugby)

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Jack Smith
MBE
Jack Smith, member of the GB Wheelchair Rugby team at Tokyo Paralympics 2020.
Personal information
Full nameJack Smith
NationalityBritish
Born (1991-06-19) 19 June 1991 (age 33)
Stockton-on-Tees
Home townSedgefield
Sport
SportWheelchair rugby
TeamUnited Kingdom Great Britain
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finalsTokyo 2020
Medal record
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo Mixed

Jack Dalziel Smith MBE (born 19 June 1991) in Stockton-on-Tees is a British wheelchair rugby athlete and member of the Great Britain national wheelchair rugby team where the team won the final on 29 August 2021 and received gold medals.[1][2] He was chosen to represent Great Britain at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo.[citation needed]

Biography

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In 2008, at age 16, Jack was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. A few weeks after this diagnosis, while playing rugby for Billingham RUFC he was injured in a ruck incident. Jack sustained a fracture-dislocation of several vertebrae and spinal cord compression, which resulted in paralysis from the chest down.[3] He had spinal surgery at North Tees Hospital and spent three months' rehab at James Cook University Hospital spinal unit.[4]

Just over a year later and Jack was back playing rugby, only this time in a wheelchair. He took up the sport in 2009 at the North East Bulls club, the region's only wheelchair team.

Jack moved on to Leicester Tigers Wheelchair Rugby club, and through many years hard work and dedication, to a place in the Great Britain team. Following his selection for the GBWR team Jack said: "This has been my dream for six or seven years and right now I'm so excited. My parents, brother, sister and my girlfriend have been so supportive and, although it's not possible for them to watch, they are over the moon for me."[4]

Smith was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to wheelchair rugby.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ "ParalympicsGB | Jack smith".
  2. ^ "Sedgefield's Jack Smith wins Paralympic gold as part of wheelchair rugby team". 29 August 2021.
  3. ^ Chronicle, Evening (24 October 2009). "Paralysed rugby teen's fight to return to action". ChronicleLive.
  4. ^ a b "RFU". www.englandrugby.com.
  5. ^ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N25.
  6. ^ "Wheelchair rugby's Jack Smith and St Teresa's Hospice boss on honours list". BBC News. 31 December 2021.