Luke Pople’s (3×3 basketball) six points and eight defensive rebounds proved a game changer in Australia’s gold-medal win over Canada in the final of the inaugural men’s wheelchair basketball tournament at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Canada pulled off a dramatic comeback to level scores at 8-8 before Pople sank three consecutive buckets to seal victory. Luke was born with Spina Bifida and started using a wheelchair when he was eight years old. When he was 13, he was approached by Eino Okkonen – the founder of the Roller Hawks National Wheelchair Basketball League team – at a shopping centre with his mum and brother. Winning bronze with the Australian Spinners at the Adana 2013 under-23 World Championships, Pople graduated to senior ranks within 12 months. Making his green and gold Australian Rollers debut at the Incheon 2014 World Championships, Pople returned home with a gold medal to match. He has also accrued international playing experience via three seasons of 5×5 in Italy (Porto Torres) and Germany (Köln 99ers), alongside a bronze medal at the Hamburg 2018 World Championships.