USA Wheelchair Rugby adds Colorado's Josh O'Neill to Paris Games roster | Colorado Sunshine

Where good news shines

USA Wheelchair Rugby is mining for gold.

And Colorado's Josh O'Neill is at the center of the team's efforts.

USA Wheelchair released its roster for the Paris 2024 U.S. Paralympics Tuesday and O'Neill, who lives in Colorado Springs and won a 2019 national championship with Denver Harlequins, earned a spot. Paris will be his first Paralympics.

The Paralympic Games in Paris run from Aug. 28-Sept. 8.

The American roster includes 12 athletes, six who won silver at the Tokyo Games in 2020. Six athletes will make their Paralympics debut. The U.S. is looking for its first gold medal on the top stage since the Beijing Games in 2008.

O'Neill is a decorated athlete. He's been playing wheelchair rugby for 12 years and won silver at the world championships in 2022. He also has a 2023 Parapan American gold on his resume.

("Colorado Sunshine" celebrates the good news in sports. Suggestions are encouraged through sports editor Paul Klee at paul.klee@gazette.com.)