Months after Mark Zupan's accident, at Jackson Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital, he was introduced to Quad Rugby. He had no interest at that time, believing that he would soon return to the soccer field. Quadriplegic? Me? Nah. In September of 1994, realizing that his life was in fact forever changed, Mark decided to pursue his engineering education at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. It was here that Mark first suited up and wheeled onto a rugby court. He quickly took to the game's hardhitting action and, after graduating in 1999, he relocated to Austin, Texas, with hopes of joining the #2-ranked Stampede—and one day, the USA Paralympic Team.
His training paid off. He became one of the most feared players on the Stampede, and was subsequently chosen for three National Teams. In 2002 he was voted Quad Rugby Player of the Year, and in 2004 he was a starter for Team USA at the Paralympics in Athens, Greece, where he led the team to a Bronze medal. He continues to compete and train, preparing for the 2008 summer Olympic games in Beijing.
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