Rio Review – Adam Deans Talks to Inside WAIS about his Rio Experience

Published On: 27 October 2016

28 year-old Adam Deans competed in his first Paralympic Games in Rio as a member of the Australian men’s wheelchair basketball team.

Whilst on court, the experience was not the one he and the Rollers were aiming for, Deans talks us through what was a journey of a lifetime.

He caught up with Inside WAIS recently for a post Rio Q and A.

How did you feel when you first found out about your Rio selection?

I was more so relieved when I first got selected than anything and just wanted to share the news with my family and friends.

What did the lead up to Rio entail for you?

A did almost all of my training in the lead up to Rio at the WAIS High Performance Service Centre. The Perth based athletes are very privileged to have such training facilities at their disposal.

What were your first thoughts when you reached the Rio Athlete Village?

My first thought when we first got to the village was I can’t wait for a shower and to lay down after the very long journey to Rio from Perth!

What was the best thing about the Athlete Village?

The best thing about the village was the meal hall, so many meal options in the one place.

Did you have to share rooms, if you did who did you share with? And was this good or bad?

I shared a room with one of my teammates Tristan Knowles, I couldn’t have asked for a better roomie!

How did you feel in the lead up to your matches?

I was quietly confident in the lead up to our games as I felt as though I had done everything I possibly could to be ready to play!

And when you’d finished all of your matches?

I was absolutely devastated after that tournament finished as we did not perform anywhere near as well as we were expecting.

Did you get up to anything else exciting while you were in Rio?

We went out after our final game with all of our supporters, it was awesome to share the whole experience with our family and friends.

Did you manage to pick up any souvenirs from your time in Rio?

No, but a teammate of mine got a hat which I don’t think he has taken off since we got back.

Would you ever like to go back to Rio again?

Not particularly, the 2016 Paralympics was my second visit to Rio and I feel like I have seen and found everything I want to there.

What is your favourite memory form your time in Rio?

My favourite memory of Rio is having a drink with one of the other Aussie athletes who has a quite a high level of disability. It was awesome talking to him and made me appreciate how easy I have things compared to some other people.