Hidefumi Wakayama

Hidefumi Wakayama

Date of birth	(1985-01-03) January 3, 1985 (age 40)
Place of birth	Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan
Occupation(s)	Wheelchair rugby player
Rugby union career
Position(s) - International career Years Team Apps (Points) Japan
Medal record Representing  Japan Paralympic Games Wheelchair rugby 2024 Paris Wheelchair Rugby 2016 Rio de Janeiro Wheelchair Rugby 2020 Tokyo Wheelchair Rugby World Games 2022 Birmingham Wheelchair Rugby

Hidefumi Wakayama (乗松 聖矢, Wakayama Hidefumi, born January 3, 1985) is a Japanese wheelchair rugby player who currently plays for Shizuoka Bank/CENTERPOLE and the Japanese national team.

Background and career

At the age of 19, Wakayama injured his spine in a swimming pool accident and began playing wheelchair rugby at a rehabilitation facility.[1] He was later selected to represent Japan in the London and Rio Paralympics, and contributed to Japan's first medal win at the latter.

In 2021, Wakayama was selected as a recommended player for the Japanese national team for the 2020 Summer Paralympics and won a bronze medal.[2][3] In 2024, he was again selected as a recommended athlete for the Japanese national team for the 2024 Summer Paralympics, with whom he won a gold medal.[4][5]

References

1. "車いすラグビー 若山 英史" (in Japanese). NHK. 25 June 2021.
2. "東京2020パラリンピック競技大会日本代表推薦選手について JWRF 一般社団法人 日本車いすラグビー連盟" (in Japanese). 日本車いすラグビー連盟. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
3. "【東京パラリンピック】「日本ラグビー」で2大会連続銅メダル！ 池主将のリーダーシップと仲間たち" (in Japanese). ラグビー共和国. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
4. "Japan beats U.S. to clinch first Paralympics wheelchair rugby gold". Japan Today. 3 September 2024.
5. Close, David (2 September 2024). "Japan defeats USA to win wheelchair rugby gold at Paris Paralympics". CNN.