Adam
Deans

Growing up, Adam Deans aspired to become a professional athlete, particularly focused on a career in the AFL. However, in 2005 he fell down the stairs at his school and broke his leg, prompting doctors to discover a cancerous tumour in his left femur. He was required to undergo chemotherapy and his leg was amputated above the knee just three months later.

After accompanying Para-triathlete Brant Garvey to wheelchair basketball training in 2009, he rediscovered his sporting dream, making his international debut that same year at the IWBF U23 World Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Paris, France.

In 2010, the 2009 Wheelchair Sports WA Rookie of the Year was granted a $2000 Redkite ‘Dare to Dream’ scholarship to help him pursue his dream of winning Paralympic gold.

After just missing selection for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Adam was chosen to tour Great Britain for the 2016 Continental Clash, a multinational competition designed in part to prepare athletes for the Games. Though the Rollers’ silver medal finish put them in good stead for a strong Rio campaign, they were eliminated from gold medal contention in a 23-point loss to Great Britain in the quarter finals.

In 2013 Adam took on an ambassadorial role with the WA-based charity foundation Sock it to Sarcoma, and in 2014 he joined Basketball Australia as a motivational speaker and life coach, which includes personal training and nutritional guidance. After completing a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Sports and Science, at Edith Cowan University, he began a Diploma of Primary Education, and intends to pursue a career in sports science following his retirement from sport.

In his spare time Adam enjoys going to the beach and watching his teams, the West Coast Eagles and Chicago Bulls, compete in the AFL and NBA. He says that watching the Eagles win the 2006 premiership ranks among his greatest sporting moments to date.