Bryan Kirkland

Sport: Quad Rugby & Wheelchair racing
Residence: Leeds, Alabama

Bryan has been active in both Quadraplegic (“Quad”) rugby and wheelchair racing since 1995. Following his accident racing Moto-X in 1992, Bryan has been racing and playing with the same fury and intensity that he had before the accident.

Specializing in 5k and 10k races Bryan can boast of 13 first place finishes in races held around the country. At the 1998 World Championships, Bryan captured a gold medal and set a new world record in the 200m race. He also brought home a silver medal in the 100m and a bronze in the 400m race.

All this action coincided with the Quad Rugby activities. A four time member of the U.S. Quad Rugby Team which won a gold medal in the 2000 games in Sydney, silver medal in 2002 World Championships in Sweden, bronze medal in 2004 games in Athens, and gold medal in 2006 World Championships in New Zealand. Bryan was captain of the 2006 U.S. Team and named Best of Class in the World in Sweden and New Zealand. He has continued his success in a wheelchair by captaining the 5-Time National Champions, Lakeshore Demolition Quad Rugby Team 15 years in a row. During this tenure, he has won All-Tournament Team honors 29 times since 1995, named Most Valuable Player 11 times and Athlete of the Year 4 times. Bryan is now a member of the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Quad Rugby team and will be competing in Beijing, China at the Paralympic Games.

Born in Oneonta, AL in 1971, Bryan spends a good deal of his free time making appearances in behalf of the Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, where he trains for both quad rugby and wheelchair racing. He also is a member of The Home Depot Olympic Job Program. Bryan is married and lives in Leeds, AL.

Working with U.S. Paralympics® founding sponsor, The Hartford, Bryan is helping to raise public awareness of what people with a physical disability can achieve in all aspects of life.