Zak Madell 'hungry' for elusive Paralympic wheelchair rugby gold

The emotions were sky-high.

Zak Madell and his Canadian teammates had just won wheelchair rugby gold at the Parapan Games in Toronto in front of friends and family.

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Who knew it was going to feel this good?

After near misses with heartbreaking losses to Australia at the 2012 London Paralympics and the 2014 world championships, Canada dusted its rival from the United States 57-54 in the Parapan Am Games final. The emotions poured out.

With his strength and speed, Madell was responsible for 34 of his team's points and forced a turnover with 30 seconds remaining to seal the deal.

Then, Canadian chef de mission Elisabeth Walker-Young strolled into the ecstatic dressing room to congratulate the team. Moments later she declared that its young star, Madell, was to be the flag-bearer for the 216-member Canadian team at the closing ceremony at Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square the following evening.

"We already had a lot of emotions going on," the Edmonton-born, Calgary-raised Madell recalled of that night at the Hershey Centre.

"So on top of the victory, it was a crazy, emotional time [to be named flag-bearer]. It was definitely my fondest memory of the summer."

An honour like no other

8 years ago

Duration 1:24

Canadian wheelchair rugby star Zak Madell reflects on being named flag-bearer for the closing ceremony of the 2015 Toronto Parapan Am Games.

The success for the Canadian wheelchair rugby team did not end there. After a few weeks of rest and relaxation, Madell and his teammates were off to London for the BT World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge, where seven of the top 10-ranked teams competed.

Canada won again, this time beating the U.S. 54-50.

Now the trick for the Canadian team, ranked No. 1 because of its summertime titles in Toronto and London, is to top its 2015 feats by winning Paralympic gold in Rio.

'We're still hungry'

Madell remarked that motivation to stay on top is easy to find.

"I think that after having such a successful summer we've showed that we're capable of competing with the best teams in the world," Madell said, sporting his omnipresent smile. "Canada has always been a top-three to top-five team and I think we'll use that first-place ranking to our advantage in Rio."

Paralympic gold is the ultimate prize and after coming so close in London four years ago, the Canadian team is determined to continue its success in Rio.

"We've kept the Olympics in the back of our minds, especially in our training," Madell said. "To come that close, you never forget. Even though we had a good summer, we're still hungry to be the best in the world, something you can boast if you win Olympic gold."

The 21-year-old Madell is not the boastful type, but his rise through the ranks of wheelchair rugby has been swift and remarkable. He was passionate about lacrosse when he was young.

At age 10, however, Madell lost his legs and fingers because of a septic staph infection. But this setback didn't deter Madell from giving up on his sporting dreams.

He tried sledge hockey, even though he had to have his sticks duct-taped to his hands. He then played wheelchair basketball. But something was absent from these endeavours for Madell. He missed the contact from his lacrosse days.

Embracing the physicality

That's when he tried murderball as wheelchair rugby was christened in the 2005 documentary Murderball. A star was born.

"It's a very appropriate name," Madell said. "Some might be intimidated, but it's a fitting name.

"The biggest thing that drew me to wheelchair rugby was the contact. What keeps me around is I love what I do. It's a fun game to play. You get to go out there and smack into each other. I've always enjoyed sports, even training in the gym. When you have your teammates around you how can you not have fun?"

Why do they call it murderball?

8 years ago

Duration 0:36

Canadian wheelchair rugby player Zak Madell gives insight into why the sport is also referred to as murderball.

Madell doesn't know where he would be without his teammates.

Sometimes, when you're the new kid on the block, you're not always the most welcome because you're taking someone's spot away.

But Madell has found his teammates nothing but supportive and helpful in his quest to be one of the game's best athletes.

"It's like having a bunch of big brothers," he said.

And those big brothers were so proud to have won at home at the Parapan Am Games and then to see their little bro wheel into Nathan Phillips Square for the closing ceremonies to a big-time ovation.

"Part of the reason we did win, because we were at home and we fed off the energy of our fans the whole time," Madell said. "Just knowing that you're friends and family are sitting in the stands watching you, you don't want to let them down. So you're out there giving it your best.

"The closing ceremonies were so cool. When I wheeled out with the flag, the whole Canadian team was sitting directly in front of me. Everyone started to cheer. The support from my fellow athletes was incredible."