One of Okotoks’ Paralympians is getting used to life after winning silver in London, but that doesn’t mean he’s forgotten a second of the awe-inspiring experience.
In fact, 18-year-old Zak Madell’s silver medal in wheelchair rugby is something he and many Canadians will never forget.
“Everything is still fresh in my mind, I think it will be a while before I forget any of it because it was such an incredible experience,” said Madell, who fondly remembers his experience entering the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony as a member of Team Canada. “The biggest thing was going into that stadium with thousands of people around cheering and being able to take part in that.”
Prior to the Paralympics little was known about Madell, but he made quite a name for himself in London. The 18 year old was the leading scorer for Canada with 68 goals in the tournament, despite being the youngest player on the team and just two years of experience in the sport.
“Ever since I started everyone took me in and tried to teach me as much as they could before London,” Madell said of the support he received from teammates. “Because of that I had 11 very experienced players helping me develop and the head coach as well.”
Leading the Canadian contingent on offence was not necessarily something Madell was banking on prior to the Paralympics.
“To be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, whether I would get a lot of playing time or if he was going to keep me on the bench because it was my first time and I was the rookie,” Madell said. “It was a bit of a surprise being able to go out there and be on the starting lineup and be the leading scorer.”
Canada finished second in its group and handed the Americans their first loss in eight years in the tournament semifinal to advance to the gold medal final versus Australia, a game Canada would lose 66-51.
Madell said trying to cover Australian dynamo Ryley Batt, the star of the wheelchair rugby tournament and a 37-goal scorer in the gold medal game, proved too tall a task.
“The fact that they had two amputees with Chris Bond out there as well, I can try and match up to one of them,” Madell said. “But then we’ve got the other one who my teammates have a little trouble with because they don’t have nearly as much trunk function or speed.”
The 23-year-old Batt is a veteran of three Paralympic Games and has steadily improved since making his debut at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens as a 15-year-old protégé.
Madell said he hopes to follow the same trajectory in his career.
“One day I hope to be as dominant and work on my chair skills so that I have the same speed and agility,” Madell said. “And then one day, because we have such similar function, to be able to play at that level.
“I guess we will find out.”
Madell, who at the age of 10 had his legs and fingers amputated as the result of a septic staph infection, was one of two Canadians to be a 3.5 classified player as those with the highest level of ability.
Zak’s mother Wendy said she is hopeful her son’s accomplishments will help to push others with disabilities to pursue athletics.
“We have had the opportunity to use sport to rebuild Zak’s body and spirit after illness and have seen the incredible opportunities that sport has brought into Zak’s life,” Wendy said. “And would like to encourage others to consider wheelchair sports or sledge hockey.”
Madell was the sole representative from Alberta on the rugby team, a fact his mother hopes will change in the future.
“Zak was the only youth in Calgary playing wheelchair basketball when he started and the only youth in Alberta playing wheelchair rugby,” Wendy said. “He would like to use this opportunity to invite others to come out and play and then dream big.
“If Zak can do it you can too.”
In the meantime, Madell is adjusting to a slower pace of competition in 2012.
“They’ve slowed down quite a bit, my training schedule hasn’t been quite as busy,” Madell said of his weeks since the London Games. “But still there have been all kinds of awards ceremonies and going to different events honouring the athletes. It’s still been rather busy, just not as fatiguing.”
The Canadian wheelchair rugby team has a slower schedule following the Paralympics competition wise, but will begin training at its national base of London, ON beginning in November.
“In December we’ve got a training camp in Montreal and then a small club level tournament after that,” Madell said. “It’s a bit of a down year.”
Everything is down after one has been at the top of their game.
