1956 Australian Boomer, Algis Ignatavicius has passed away, aged 89 years old.
A member of the first Australian men’s basketball Olympic team, Ignatavicius will be remembered as a phenomenal shooter, as a man who could play on any team and above all for his sense of humour.
A story of adversity, Ignatavicius’ basketball journey began when he and his family were placed in the Displaced Persons Camp in Germany after the Second World War, where they remained for almost four years before migrating to Australia in 1949.
At 17 years old, the Ignatavicius family landed in Adelaide, where Algis settled in and took part in many sports. He was named on the South Australia Basketball team from 1951 to 1955 and won the Australian Men’s Championships in 1953.
Basketball Australia would like to extend its condolences to the Ignatavicius family.
In the spirit of reconciliation Basketball Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.