Short Wave

The physics of wheelchair basketball, from a Paralympian


Listen Later

Patrick Anderson is widely recognized as the greatest wheelchair basketball player of all time. He's represented Canada at the Paralympics six times and led his team to win three gold — and one silver — medals. But since he first started playing in the 1990s, the sport has changed dramatically. He says that's due in part to the technological innovations in wheelchair athletics. In this episode, guest host Andrew Mambo chats with Patrick about the reasons for these changes. They also cover the origin of the sport, how the innovations that have changed gameplay and the rising popularity of wheelchair basketball around the world. Plus, the commonality between sport wheelchairs and stance cars.

Interested in hearing more about the science behind sports? Email us at [email protected]we'd love to hear your feedback!

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Short WaveBy NPR

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

6,014 ratings


More shows like Short Wave

View all
Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,115 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,649 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,941 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,823 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,260 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

22,054 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,438 Listeners

Science Vs by Spotify Studios

Science Vs

12,074 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,838 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,180 Listeners

The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

9,555 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

15,977 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,299 Listeners

Consider This from NPR by NPR

Consider This from NPR

6,056 Listeners

Unexplainable by Vox

Unexplainable

2,201 Listeners