Cody Everson looks for the positive in any situation; he is also highly competitive. When he was paralysed at 15, his immediate reaction was to find wins wherever he could.
Growing up in Christchurch, Everson had dreams of becoming an All Black one day. But it was while playing his favourite game that he sustained a neck injury in a tackle which resulted in the then 15-year-old becoming tetraplegic.
While at the Burwood Spinal Unit, Cody met Paralympian #111 Sholto Taylor, a long-time member of New Zealand’s Wheelchair rugby team the Wheel Blacks, who mentors young patients getting to grips with their new realities. Sholto encouraged Cody to watch the Wheel Blacks in action, giving the boy who wanted to be an All Black a new dream to work towards.
Cody was named captain of the Wheel Blacks who competed at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games – the team’s first appearance at the Paralympics for 13 years. The team placed 8th overall and gained valuable experience to build on for their journey to Paris 2024.
