USA Wheelchair Rugby Advances to Gold Medal Game in Tokyo

Tokyo - USA Wheelchair Rugby will now play for gold after a sweet 49-42 victory over Australia in the semifinal game at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. The win was redemption for the U.S. who lost to the Aussies in double-overtime at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. The Americans will face Great Britain in the gold medal game who defeated Japan 55-49 in the other semifinal game.

Chuck Aoki scored 27 points in the game, topping

the 25 scored by Australia's Ryley Batt. The U.S. remained undefeated in Tokyo winning all three pool games and then the semifinal. Australia struggled through pool play, winning just one of their three matches.

A win in the finals would give USA Wheelchair Rugby its third Paralympic gold medal. The United States won gold in 2000 in Sydney and in 2008 in Beijing.

USA Wheelchair Rugby players are not the only athletes with a Lakeshore connection competing in Tokyo. Former Lakeshore youth wheelchair basketball player Brian Bell is competing in his second Paralympic Games with the U.S. Wheelchair Basketball Team. The defending gold medalists are undefeated in pool play.