Paris 2024: Wheelchair rugby star Madell shares his golden secret

Every morning Zak Madell wakes up to a visual reminder that there is nothing routine about 2024.

Canada’s wheelchair rugby icon reaches for his prosthetics and removes the covers. They are painted gold. So is Madell’s wheelchair.

It is a statement of intent for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

“The gold medal is always the target,” Madell said. “And there is no doubt in my mind that we can make the podium with this current team.”

‘We keep each other accountable’

The Canada wheelchair rugby team is “decentralised”. It means that Madell trains alone, joining the others for training camps and competitions.

“The beauty of team sport is that we keep each other accountable. We know that the other members are at home grinding day in, and day out. 

“That is the best motivation: not wanting to let down the rest of the team,” three-time Paralympian Madell said.

Canada booked their place at the Games in a qualification tournament in March which saw them pipped by a point in the final against old enemies Australia. 

By reaching the podium at the Paris 2024 Qualification Tournament, Australia, Canada and Germany booked their spot in the eight-team tournament at Paris 2024. The tournament also features hosts France, Denmark, Great Britain, Japan and the USA

Madell, still known as “The Kid”, was the star of the Final Qualification Tournament. He retains his nickname even though he has just celebrated his 30th birthday and is no longer quite so fresh-faced.

‘All eyes are laser focused on Paris’

“We went into this tournament confident that we could qualify, but it is definitely a relief to be able to have that behind us. Now all eyes are laser focused on Paris.

“This definitely shows us and the rest of the world that we are able to compete with the top teams in the world,” he said.

Madell is given a personal fitness plan to follow when he is at home. There is a back-up support team who provide information and guidance on diet, nutrition, mental or other issues.

“We receive plans for on-court sessions, weight-lifting routines, and prehab exercise to keep the body happy and healthy.

“The team is decentralised. We get together about once a month for either a training camp or competition.”

Adjustments are made all the time as the team continue their pre-Games countdown.

‘Training regime is always shifting’

“Our training regime is always shifting to ensure that our body keeps adapting and is prepared for the big show.

“Also, I have gold on both my prosthetic legs, and my wheelchair, to provide constant reminders of the end goal in Paris.”

Madell lost his fingers and legs through sepsis as a 10-year-old and made his wheelchair rugby breakthrough as a 16-year-old. Almost immediately he was called into the squad for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, helping the team to a silver medal.

Hence “The Kid”.

“It’s still ‘The Kid.’  I bring a lighthearted and enthusiastic approach to the game even if I no longer look the part,” said Madell, who celebrated his 30th by going ‘gator chasing’ and watching basketball in New Orleans.

‘I feel zero pressure’

“I am in a unique situation where I am still one of the younger athletes on the team but have also been playing with some of the truly veteran players for over a decade. I feel zero pressure.”

At Rio 2016, Canada’s finish was a disappointing fourth place and, at Tokyo 2020, Canada came fifth. The Santiago 2023 Parapan Games saw them win silver.

Madell and his teammates have studied the performances in Japan and he is confident that he saw positive signs.

“Obviously fifth is not the outcome we desired, however the games that we did lose were only by one or two points to the two teams that ended up competing in the gold medal match.”

Now the focus is forwards, with Madell leading the charge. The plan is to utilise the competition calendar by getting in some match practice.

Down-time is valuable and rare for Madell, who has qualifications as an architectural technologist and who is often invited to be a keynote speaker.

‘My guilty secret’

He is deeply interested in making life more accessible for people with a disability and intends to pursue it when he finally retires his chair. 
More immediately it is work, work, work. And a countdown to his favourite food.

“I always look forward to not having many dietary restrictions after a major event. Chicken wings would be my number one guilty pleasure though,” he said. 

Before that, Madell, with his golden prosthetics and golden wheelchair, has something far more important on the agenda.

Discover more about wheelchair rugby and the 22 sports in the Paris 2024 Paralympic sports programme 

Book your tickets for the Paralympic Games by visiting the Paris 2024 ticketing website