The U.S. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team celebrates its gold medal finish at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. John Gilbert is pictured on the front row, second from the right. (Photo credit: National Wheelchair Basketball Association)

John Gilbert, a member of the U.S. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, made his paralympic debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, held September 7 – 18, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro. Team USA had an amazing run, winning the team’s first gold medal in that sport since 1988.
Team USA won their first five games in pool play, defeating Brazil 75-38, Germany 77-52, the Islamic Republic of Iran 93-44, Algeria 92-24, and Great Britain 65-48.
The team advanced to the quarterfinals Wednesday, September 14, and defeated the Netherlands 70-37. The semifinal game on Thursday, September 15, saw another win for Team USA as they defeated Turkey 74-54. Team USA defeated Spain 68-52 in the gold medal match on Saturday, September 17.
Gilbert, a graduate of Fairfax R-3 School, is a high school chemistry and physics teacher in Salisbury, Missouri.