Aussie Roller Nick Taylor calls time

Taylor played 62 games for the Rollers and was a part of the program that won a Paralympic silver medal in 2012 and a World Championship gold medal last year after first hitting the court for Australia at the Rollers World Challenge in 2009.

“I’ve loved every minute of my journey and I’ll be proud to tell my boys when they grow up that I had the honour of representing our country,” said Taylor.

“I would have loved to push on and compete for a spot in Rio, but my priorities have changed a lot over the last year.

“I’ve got to the point recently where it’s pretty obvious to me that I’m not prepared to sacrifice the time with my young family anymore that I would need to in order to juggle my working career.”

Taylor’s pathway to the Australian national team was different to most. Born in South Africa, the shooting guard attended university in both his home country and the University of Texas in the USA before competing for South Africa at the 2008 Paralympics.

He then joined the Rollers in 2009, finding immediate success at the highest level.

“[Taylor’s] journey to become a Roller is one that should be admired,” said Australian men’s wheelchair head coach Ben Ettridge.

“[He] represented his adopted country, himself and most importantly his family with great pride [and for him] to want to contribute and help the current group in the pursuit of the gold medal in Rio is exactly what we hope for in our departing Rollers.”

Taylor will now devote time to his family, including wife Sonia and his two sons, Mitchell and Bailey. Basketball Australia wishes him all the best.