Which sport was known as “murderball” before adopting its Paralympic name?

Wheelchair rugby was known as “murderball” before adopting its current Paralympic name.

The sport was created in Canada in 1977 by athletes with quadriplegia who wanted an alternative to wheelchair basketball. Its early nickname reflected the hard collisions, rapid wheelchair contact and aggressive defensive play that distinguish it from many other wheelchair sports.

Wheelchair rugby became a demonstration sport at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics and entered the official programme at Sydney 2000. It was initially called wheelchair rugby, although the nickname murderball remained widely associated with it.

The sport is played indoors on a basketball-sized court. Teams try to carry the ball across the opponents’ goal line, and athletes use specially designed wheelchairs built to withstand repeated impacts.