Wheelchair Rugby

Wheelchair rugby was originally called Murderball when it was invented in Winnipeg in 1976. Today, this home-grown Canadian sport is one of the most famous wheelchair sports around, thanks to the 2005 Academy Award-nominated documentary, “Murderball,” which followed the rivalry between the Canadian and American teams at the 2004 Athens Paralympics.

Wheelchair rugby is only for athletes whose physical disability affects at least 3 limbs (if they have a spinal cord injury) or 4 limbs (if they have a non-SCI disability like cerebral palsy or amputation). In this full-contact sport, athletes play in tank-like wheelchairs and hit each others' chairs in an attempt to carry a ball across the line.

Fun Fact: The inventor of wheelchair rugby, Duncan Campbell, still plays the sport in BC!