Gavin Walker

Gavin was introduced to the sport in 2011 after a life-changing spinal injury where he slipped on some wet decking the previous year in his job as a fireman, where he had been in the post since 2003.

During his rehab in the Sheffield Spinal Unit, Gavin met Sarah Leighton, a GBWR classifier, and physio. Sarah told him all about the sport and in 2011 Gavin went along to his first training session at the Marauders club.

He continued to work for his local fire service in Sheffield until 2012 and in the following year, he made his international debut at the 2013 European Championships, where he won a bronze medal.

Gavin was a regular in the starting line-up when he made his Paralympic debut in 2016 before becoming the team’s co-captain where he helped the team to a third consecutive European title in 2019.

He was integral to the team’s historic success in Tokyo, where they became the first European nation to win Paralympic gold and was honoured with an MBE for his services.

They narrrowly missed out on a medal at Paris 2024 finishing fourth after a narrow 50-48 defeat to Australia - a team they had been in the group stage

Away from wheelchair rugby, Gavin is father to 2 daughters and also works for the Spinal Injury Association supporting individuals who have recently sustained spinal injuries.

**Paris 2024 Paralympic Games - **4th

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: Gold

2016 Rio Paralympic Games – 5th

2019 European Championships, Denmark – 1st

2017 European Championships, Germany – 1st

2015 European Championships, Finland – 1st

2013 European Championships – 3rd