After being born without one of the two bones in his lower left leg, Cooper endured countless painful operations and procedures throughout his first 12 years.

As it became harder and harder for him to keep playing basketball, the sport he loves, Cooper stunned parents Renee and Matt when he told them he wanted to have the leg amputated. It was a decision he didn't make lightly. Cooper's maturity, courage and tenacity is remarkable, and before he had become a teenager, he became an amputee.

Now, at 18 years of age, Cooper is living a great life. He's taken the wheelchair basketball world by storm and is well on the way to achieving his dream of becoming a Paralympian.

Phil Smyth is a bone fide Australian sporting legend. The basketball great has a super impressive CV that boasts more than 350 games with the Boomers, appearances at 4 Olympics and 5 World Champs, plus 6 NBL titles as a player and coach.

However, his influence goes well beyond the court, ‘The General’ is now an invaluable mentor and confidant to some amazingly successful coaches, including Brisbane’s dual AFL premiership boss Chris Fagan, and two-time SANFL premiership coach turned Port Adelaide AFL assistant Darren Reeves.

Phil Smyth is a bone fide Australian sporting legend. The basketball great has a super impressive CV that boasts more than 350 games with the Boomers, appearances at 4 Olympics and 5 World Champs, plus 6 NBL titles as a player and coach.

However, his influence goes well beyond the court, ‘The General’ is now an invaluable mentor and confidant to some amazingly successful coaches, including Brisbane’s dual AFL premiership boss Chris Fagan, and two-time SANFL premiership coach turned Port Adelaide AFL assistant Darren Reeves.