General News
6 August, 2021
Retirement plans hosed in quest for gold
CAMPERDOWN Paralympian Josh Hose has thrown aside retirement plans to chase a third gold medal later this month.
CAMPERDOWN Paralympian Josh Hose has thrown aside retirement plans to chase a third gold medal later this month.
The 34 year-old has been named in the Australian Steelers 12 player wheelchair rugby side for the upcoming Tokyo Paralympic Games starting later this month.
It follows his selection in the team for the 2012 London and 2016 Rio games, both of which saw him win gold medals.
Hose said he was thrilled to be selected in the 12 player squad.
“I’m pretty pumped and keen for it,” he said.
“It’s been a short lead-up because I initially retired after Rio but then this opportunity came up early last year.
“It was just a bit of COVID and helping out with training at squad sessions for the Vic squad (that opened the door).
“There was a little opportunity a spot could be taken and I sniffed it out.”
Hose is one of five players – alongside skipper Ryley Batt, Chris Bond, Andrew Harrison, and Jason Lees – to have featured in both gold medal wins, while Andrew Edmondson and Ben Fawcett were a part of the Rio victory.
Olympic debutants Mick Ozanne, Jake Howe, Richard Voris and Shae Graham round out the squad, with Graham becoming the first woman to represent the Steelers at the Games.
The local export said he was excited to represent his country once again, adding Tokyo was likely to be his international career swansong.
“I think the excitement is still the same, but there isn’t too much anxiety because it’s all pretty similar, you pretty much just have to rock-up with passport and then perform,” Hose said.
“I think (my excitement) it may change a little bit because there’s different aspects to this one with being older to my friends, family and the community.
“It’s probably going to be my last one so it will be amazing to take it all in (the experience) and to have all the support I’ve got from everyone back in Camperdown.”
Australia will contest pool A of the games alongside reigning world champions Japan and European duo Denmark and France.
Canada, Great Britian, New Zealand and the United States of America will contest pool B, with the top two sides from each pool to qualify for the semi-finals and the chance to play-off for a medal.
Hose said the Steelers had been unable to come together as a full squad in the lead-up to the games just yet due to COVID-19.
But he and his team-mates have remained adaptable as much as possible despite other countries having the luxury of playing regularly.
“It’s going to be tough because we’ve had limited games both internationally and domestically,” Hose said.
“We’ve been training a lot of the time while the Europeans are open and playing in competitions.
“It’s been frustrating watching them online playing when we’re only training and while it’s quality time, we want to be playing against opposition we don’t know instead.
“Each team is going to be pretty strong, the US are looking good and GB (Great Britain) have some valuable opponents coming in.”
Hose entered a 14 day self-isolation on Wednesday and will train and work from home ahead of a four day camp on August 14.
The side will then fly out on August 18 for Tokyo, where it will complete its final preparations ahead of its first game on August 25.
“I’m not sure if we fly out in the morning or at night but once we get there we’ll check in and do some recovery and have training sessions,” Hose said.
“Normally we’re later in the games but this year we’re fortunate this time we get to kick off at the start of the tournament and hopefully we get the job done.”
Hose said he was “very grateful for the support from his family and the local community” following the announcement he had made the squad once again.