But his most memorable victory was against the United States in the semi-finals of the Stoke Mandeville Games.

The 36-year-old shooting guard scored 25 points to help rally his team after being down by 17 points. This feat brought the team within a single point with only 2 minutes to go. Great Britain finally beat the Americans 65:60.

In 1982, Craven became a leading voice for a change in the classification system in wheelchair basketball. He had personally witnessed the disenchantment of a number of athletes penalized by a system that emphasized a medical definition rather than a focus on true mobility through observation as it related to the sport.

Thanks to his continuous efforts, the new system was soon adopted and later implemented in the Paralympic Games of Stoke Mandeville in 1984.

"I've been viewed by maybe a lot of people as a rebel," said Craven. "But I've been a rebel going after a cause."

Craven seems to have set an example for successors.

He is actively involved with preparations for the upcoming Games, which now are required to integrate the planning and operations of the Paralympics within the overall organizing committee.

As member of the Coordination Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Beijing 2008 since 2002, Craven has visited Beijing 13 times.

A wheelchair user, he has experienced the inadequately equipped hotels and other facilities, which has enabled IOC colleagues to see first-hand the obstacles Paralympians face, and seen vast improvements.

"The preparations for the Beijing Summer Games and Paralympics are fantastic," he said. "Athens was a little bit late in preparations while Beijing makes me feel very relaxed."