Donate Now
Paralympian Profile

Gareth Lynch PLY #219

Gareth Lynch

Gareth Lynch loves the intensity and strategy involved in Wheelchair ruby. In 2016, Lynch had an accident diving into a swimming pool that resulted in a C5 – C6 level spinal cord injury from which he has loss of power in his limbs.

Gareth is grateful for the opportunities that have come his way and he has pursued them with determination since his accident. He has always played sport and has loved competing in a team environment again which is something he says he didn’t think he would be able to do after his injury.

Gareth was part of the Wheel Blacks team that placed 3rd at the 2019 Asia Oceania Wheelchair Rugby Championships.

Gareth made his Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games as a team member of the first Wheel Blacks side to compete at the Paralympics since 2008 . The team placed 8th overall and gained valuable experience to build on for their journey to Paris 2024.

Gareth was named a Harvey Norman Para Sport Champion in 2024.

2022 Wheelchair Rugby World Championships
Paralympic Results
Paralympic GamesResult
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
  • 8th – Wheelchair Rugby

Profile

  • home icon

    Hometown: Auckland

  • cake icon

    Born: 5 November 1996

  • heart icon

    Eligible Impairment: Loss of muscle power

  • person with heart icon

    Health Condition: Quadriplegia (caused by spinal cord injury)

  • whistle icon

    Coach: Greg Mitchell

  • open book icon

    Classification: 1.0

  • calendar icon

    Games Year: Tokyo 2020

  • star icon

    Para Sport: Wheelchair rugby

You may also like

You may also like

  • Hayden Barton-Cootes competes in Wheelchair Rugby at Tokyo 2020.

    Wheel Blacks Eye Medellín Success on Road to LA28 

    Wheel Blacks coach Paralympian #223 Gavin Rolton is targeting victory at the World Championships Qualification Tournament in Medellín, Colombia this week (16–19 April NZT), which he hopes will act as a springboard to their wider ambitions…
    Read More about Wheel Blacks Eye Medellín Success on Road to LA28 .
  • Mitch Simpson plays in a game of Wheelchair rugby.

    Mitch finds inspiration and purpose in Wheelchair rugby 

    When Mitch Simpson takes to the court for the Wheel Blacks in front of his parents and 11-year-old son at the WWR 2025 Asia Oceania Wheelchair rugby Championship in Bangkok, Thailand this week (20-24 November), there…
    Read More about Mitch finds inspiration and purpose in Wheelchair rugby .
  • A split image of Jai Waite on the left, and Tim Johnson on the right.

    Paralympic gold duo embark on bold new journey toward LA28 

    Paralympic Wheelchair rugby gold medallists – Paralympian #126 Tim Johnson MNZM and Paralympian #156 Jai Waite – have switched to Para table tennis and are set to compete at the ITTF-Oceania Para Table Tennis Championships this…
    Read More about Paralympic gold duo embark on bold new journey toward LA28 .

Official Partners

Official Suppliers

Funding Partners