Australia at the 1994 Winter Paralympics | |
---|---|
IPC code | AUS |
NPC | Australian Paralympic Committee |
Website | www |
in Lillehammer | |
Competitors | 6 in 1 sport |
Medals Ranked 11th |
|
Winter Paralympics appearances (overview) | |
The 1994 Winter Paralympics were held in Lillehammer, Norway. Australia sent six male skiers, who won three gold, two silver and four bronze medals. [1] [2] [3] Australia, at the time, achieved their best ever performance at a Winter Paralympics, finishing 5th overall in the alpine skiing competition, 9th in the medal standings, and 11th in the total medal count out of 31 nations. [4]
Despite the previous Winter Olympics being held in 1992, a 1986 decision made by the International Organising Committee (IOC) was implemented, denoting that the Summer and Winter Olympic Games be held on alternating 4 year cycles, occurring on even years. Thus, the 1994 games were held a mere 2 years after the previous Winter Olympics of Albertville (France) in 1992. The Games were held from Thursday March 10, to Saturday March 19, and consisted of 133 events across 5 sports. 31 Nations participated, with a total of 471 participating athletes. The 1994 Winter Paralympics were also the first Games organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). [5]
The logo for the 1994 Winter Paralympics featured a white sun figure on a blue background, depicting the sun people. It aimed to evoke feelings of power, vitality, strength, and energy, seen as characteristics of disabled athletes. This was the final time the five multicolored 'tae-guks', located at the base of the illustration, were used in connection with the Paralympic Games. [5]
A competition was conducted for the creation of the mascot for the 1994 Winter Paralympics, with Tor Lindrupsen winning with his drawing of 'Sondre'. The mascot for the Games, 'Sondre', is a friendly teenage troll boy who is 'charming, good-natured, elegant, and poised', and has his left leg amputated above the knee. The name of the mascot was decided via a competition, and is named after the great skiing pioneer, Sondre Nordheim. [5]
Given the shorter than usual hiatus of two years between Paralympic Games, the Australian Winter Paralympic team began a two-year intensive squad development and training program. To accompany this program, high-profile coach Steve Graham was appointed as coach of the winter Paralympic team. Six separate camps were conducted in Australia between October 1992 and October 1993, followed by the selection of the Winter Paralympic team in November 1993. The team's training concluded with 4 weeks training and racing in Tamsweg, Austria, followed by one week of training at Hafjell, Norway - the location of the Alpine Skiing events during the Games. Tamsweg was chosen as a training site due to its similarity in conditions to Hafjell, Norway. [4]
Medal | Name | Sport | Event |
---|---|---|---|
Gold | Michael Norton | Alpine Skiing | Men's Slalom LWXI |
Gold | Michael Norton | Alpine Skiing | Men's Super-G LWXI |
Gold | Michael Milton | Alpine Skiing | Men's Giant Slalom LW2 |
Silver | Michael Milton | Alpine Skiing | Men's Slalom LW2 |
Silver | James Paterson | Alpine Skiing | Men's Downhill LW9 |
Bronze | James Paterson | Alpine Skiing | Men's Giant Slalom LW9 |
Bronze | Michael Milton | Alpine Skiing | Men's Super-G LW2 |
Bronze | Michael Milton | Alpine Skiing | Men's Downhill LW2 |
Bronze | David Munk | Alpine Skiing | Men's Giant Slalom LWXI |
Medal | Name | Country | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Gold | NORTON Michael | Australia | 1:54.32 |
Silver | SHINOHE Ryuei | Japan | 2:12.69 |
Bronze | BOWNESS William | United States of America | 2:13.02 |
Medal | Name | Country | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Gold | NORTON Michael | Australia | 1:32.70 |
Silver | MCDOUGAL Michael | United States of America | 1:34.06 |
Bronze | BOWNESS William | United States of America | 1:36.47 |
Medal | Name | Country | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Gold | MILTON Michael | Australia | 2:25.88 |
Silver | SPITZ Alexander | Germany | 2:26.70 |
Bronze | MANNINO Greg | United States of America | 2:26.79 |
Medal | Name | Country | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Gold | SPITZ Alexander | Germany | 1:15.78 |
Silver | MILTON Michael | Australia | 1:18.05 |
Bronze | MEIER Monte | United States of America | 1:20.29 |
Medal | Name | Country | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Gold | MOURIC Tristan | France | 1:19.87 |
Silver | PATERSON James Lawrence | Australia | 1:21.40 |
Bronze | HIRSCHBUEHL Arno | Austria | 1:22.15 |
Medal | Name | Country | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Gold | SEISCHAB Eberhard | Germany | 2:33.41 |
Silver | MOURIC Tristan | France | 2:35.60 |
Bronze | PATERSON James Lawrence | Australia | 2:36.46 |
Medal | Name | Country | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Gold | MANNINO Greg | United States of America | 1:17.76 |
Silver | SPITZ Alexander | Germany | 1:18.97 |
Bronze | MILTON Michael | Australia | 1:19.05 |
Medal | Name | Country | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Gold | MANNINO Greg | United States of America | 1:16.81 |
Silver | SPITZ Alexander | Germany | 1:17.98 |
Bronze | MILTON Michael | Australia | 1:18.34 |
Medal | Name | Country | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Gold | DAVIS John | United States of America | 2:59.86 |
Silver | SHINOHE Ryuei | Japan | 3:03.21 |
Bronze | MUNK David | Australia | 3:03.24 |
Michael Norton was born in 1964, and grew up on a dairy farm in Leongatha. [7] In February 1984, whilst riding his motorbike home from work, Michael hit a rock and came off his bike, leaving him paralysed. [8] He established and coached at a ski school in Mount Buller for disabled people, and frequently made television appearances in a bid to raise the profile of disability sport in Australia. [8]
After his paralysis, Michael began wheelchair racing, and won the Australian wheelchair racing championship in Adelaide during February 1986. He learnt to ski in 1987, after being taught by George Macpherson, a founder of sit skiing Australia. In 1988 he was invited to Canada by ski coach Dean Sheppard, in a bid to develop a career in ski racing. Michael competed at the 1990 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Colorado, as well as competing in the 1992 Tignes-Albertville Winter Paralympics. He won a bronze medal in the Men's Slalom LW11 event at the 1992 Winter Paralympics. [8]
Leading up to the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Paralympics, Michael had a crash during training that left him unconscious. Despite this, he would go on to win a gold in the Men's Slalom LWXI and the Men's Super-G LWXI. [6] Michael's LWXI disability classification was seen as - sitting: paraplegia with fair functional sitting balance. [6]
Michael Milton was born in Canberra, in 1973. He started skiing at the age of 3, only to have his left leg amputated above the knee when he was 9 years old, due to cancer. [9] His home ski resort is located at Thredbo, New South Wales. Michael also competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Paralympics, where he won four gold medals. He is the current Australian record holder for the fastest downhill skier (open record), posting a speed of 213.65 km/h. [10] He also went on to compete at the 2006 Winter Paralympics. Deciding to change career paths, Michael took up cycling, and went on to win a gold medal in the 3000m Individual Pursuit at the Australian Track Cycling championship, breaking the Australian record. [10] He was inducted into the Australian Institute of Sport 'Best of the Best' in 2001, and in 2014 was the assistant alpine skiing coach of the Australian Winter Paralympic team at the Sochi Games.
Michael made his first Paralympic debut at the 1988 Innsbruck Winter Paralympics, but took home no medals. [6] He proceeded to compete at the 1992 Tignes-Albertville Winter Paralympics, where he won a gold medal in the men's Slalom LW2 event, and a silver medal in the Men's Super-G LW2 event, [6] for which he was awarded a medal of the Order of Australia. In 1992, he also won the slalom in the Australian Championships, and won the slalom and super giant slalom at the Columbia Crest Cup in 1993.
At the 1994 Winter Paralympics, Michael made his best performance to date when he won a gold medal in the Men's Giant slalom LW2 event, a silver medal in the Men's slalom LW2 event, and bronze medals in the Men's Super-G LW2 and Downhill LW2 events. [6] Michael's LW2 disability classification is seen as 'standing: single leg amputation above the knee'. [11] He won a total of 4 medals at the Games, [6] giving him a total of 6 Winter Paralympic medals at the time.
James Paterson was born in Terrigal, New South Wales, and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. [12] He worked as a marine mechanic for Halvorsen Boats, who supported his overseas preparation in the lead-up to the 1994 Games. Along with competing at the 1994 Winter Paralympics, he also competed at the 1996 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, where he won a silver medal and two bronze medals. [13] Two years later, he represented Australia again at the 1998 Winter Paralympics where he was team captain and competed in four events, winning a gold medal in the Men's Downhill LW9, and a bronze medal in the Men's Slalom LW9. [6] He also went on to win a silver medal at the 2000 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in the Men's Giant Slalom LW9. [14]
James made his Winter Paralympic debut at the 1994 Winter Paralympic Games, where he competed in all alpine skiing events, in the LW9 disability classification. He walked away with a silver medal in the Men's Downhill LW9, and a bronze medal in the Men's Giant Slalom LW9. [6] James' disability classification of LW9, is seen as 'standing: amputation or equivalent impairment of one arm and one leg'. [11]
Team officials were:
Chef de Mission - Nick Dean
Manager - Ron Finneran
Coaches - Steve Graham, Dean Sheppard
Media - Paul Griffiths
Support staff - Alan Dean, Eddie Jesiolowski, David Howells, Fiona Barnsdall [4]
Athlete | Event | Time | Rank |
---|---|---|---|
Rod Hacon | Men's Downhill LWXII | 1:33.81 | 5 |
Men's Giant Slalom LWXII | DNF | ||
Men's Slalom LWXII | DNF | ||
Men's Super-G LWXII | 1:35.15 | 4 | |
Michael Milton | Men's Downhill LW2 | 1:18.34 | |
Men's Super-G LW2 | 1:19.05 | ||
Men's Giant Slalom LW2 | 2:25.88 | ||
Men's Slalom LW2 | 1:18.05 | ||
David Munk | Men's Downhill LWXI | 1:58.59 | 5 |
Men's Slalom LWXI | 2:15.14 | 4 | |
Men's Super-G LWXI | 1:38.67 | 5 | |
Men's Giant Slalom LWXI | 3:03.24 | ||
Michael Norton | Men's Downhill LWXI | DNF | |
Men's Giant Slalom LWXI | DNF | ||
Men's Slalom LWXI | 1:54.32 | ||
Men's Super-G LWXI | 1:32.70 | ||
James Paterson | Men's Slalom LW9 | DSQ | |
Men's Super-G LW9 | DNF | ||
Men's Giant Slalom LW9 | 2:36.46 | ||
Men's Downhill LW9 | 1:21.40 | ||
Craig Windham | Men's Giant Slalom LW6/8 | DSQ | |
Men's Slalom LW6/8 | DNF |
Rank | Nation | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | United States (USA) | 24 | 9 | 6 | 39 |
2 | Germany (GER) | 11 | 11 | 10 | 32 |
3 | France (FRA) | 9 | 4 | 8 | 21 |
4 | Austria (AUT) | 7 | 13 | 8 | 28 |
5 | Australia (AUS) | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
6 | New Zealand (NZL) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
7 | Norway (NOR) | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
8 | Switzerland (SUI) | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
9 | Sweden (SWE) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
10 | Spain (ESP) | 1 | 6 | 3 | 10 |
11 | Canada (CAN) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
12 | Russia (RUS) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
13 | Italy (ITA) | 0 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
14 | Japan (JPN) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
15 | Slovakia (SVK) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
16 | Great Britain (GBR) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
17 | Belgium (BEL) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
17 | Czech Republic (CZE) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
17 | Liechtenstein (LIE) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Total | 66 | 67 | 65 | 198 |
Downhill skiing is a discipline of alpine skiing that prioritizes speed over turning or technique. A typical Downhill course starts near the top of a mountain, and has gates that are farther apart than other alpine skiing disciplines, and includes challenging turns, shallow dips, flats, and small airs. Speeds of up to 130 km/h are common in international competition.
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline that involves skiing between poles or gates, that are typically spaced closer together than Giant slalom or Downhill disciplines. Higher speeds are sacrificed for the need for tighter and sharper turns.
The Giant slalom involves skiing between sets of poles or gates, spaced farther apart than the slalom, but less than that those in the Super-G. A typical course must have a total vertical drop of 250m to 450m, and speeds of up to 40 km/h are common in international competition.
Super-G (or Super-Giant slalom) is a downhill skiing discipline that also involves skiing between gates or poles. Gates are further apart in the Super-G than in the giant slalom or slalom, and speeds are therefore typically faster. In a typical Super-G course, gates are set so the skiers must turn more than in downhill (the other speed discipline).
Alpine skiing at the games consisted of four events for both men and women, with each event containing 12 different disability classifications.
Australia finished in 9th (out of 31 nations) with 3 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 4 bronze medals, for a total of 9 medals. This was a stark improvement from 2 years prior at the Albertville Paralympics, where they won 1 gold medal, 1 silver medal, and 2 bronze medals. This is Australia's second best medal position to date, surpassed only by the 2002 Salt Lake City Team who placed 8th with 6 gold medals. The 1994 Winter Paralympics was also the most medals amassed by an Australian Winter Paralympic team, contributing to almost a third of Australia's total Winter Paralympic medals (30). [6]
To sort this table by nation, total medal count, or any other column, click on the icon next to the column title.
* Host nation (Norway)
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Norway* | 29 | 22 | 13 | 64 |
2 | Germany | 25 | 21 | 18 | 64 |
3 | United States | 24 | 12 | 7 | 43 |
4 | France | 14 | 6 | 11 | 31 |
5 | Russia | 10 | 12 | 8 | 30 |
6 | Austria | 7 | 16 | 12 | 35 |
7 | Finland | 7 | 6 | 11 | 24 |
8 | Sweden | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
9 | Australia | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
10 | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
Totals (10 nations) | 125 | 100 | 89 | 314 |
Michael John Milton, OAM is an Australian Paralympic skier, Paralympic cyclist and paratriathlete with one leg. With 6 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals he is the most successful Australian Paralympic athlete in the Winter Games.
Alpine skiing at the 2002 Winter Paralympics consisted of 53 events, 34 for men and 19 for women which all took place at the Snowbasin Ski Area.
Alpine skiing at the 1998 Winter Paralympics consisted of 54 events, 35 for men and 19 for women.
Alpine skiing at the 1994 Winter Paralympics, in Lillehammer (Norway), consisted of 66 events, 46 for men and 20 for women.
Alpine skiing at the 1992 Winter Paralympics consisted of 48 events, 30 for men and 18 for women.
Alpine skiing at the 1988 Winter Paralympics consisted of 44 events, 29 for men and 15 for women.
Alpine skiing at the 1984 Winter Paralympics consisted of 56 events, 34 for men and 22 for women.
The United States sent a delegation to compete at the 1984 Winter Paralympics in Innsbruck, Austria.
The 1984 Winter Paralympics, then known as The Third World Winter Games for the Disabled, were held in Innsbruck, Austria. The games took place from the 15 until 21 January. Present at these games were 419 athletes from 21 countries, Spain and the Netherlands competing for the first time in the Winter Paralympics, competing in 107 events across 3 sports. The inclusion of Les Austres and Cerebral palsy impairment groups contributing to the distinct increase in athlete participation with the total number of athletes jumping from 229 at Geilo, Norway in 1980.
The 2011 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships was held in Sestriere, Italy, from January 14 to 23, 2011. IPC stands for International Paralympic Committee.
Australia sent a delegation to compete at the 1988 Winter Paralympics in Innsbruck, Austria, which was held between 17–24 January 1988. This marked the nation's fourth appearance at the Winter Paralympics. The delegation sent a group of five alpine skiers as they wouldn't get a medal in these games.
Australia competed at the 1992 Winter Paralympics in Tignes and Albertville in France. They were the first winter Paralympics to be celebrated concurrently with the Olympic Games. The official logo of the Games was designed by Jean-Michel Folon. It depicts a bird with broken wings, soaring high across the peak of a mountain. This was used to reflect the sporting abilities of the athletes at the Games. The official mascot, Alpy, designed by Vincent Thiebaut, represented the summit of the Grande Motte mountain in Tignes. Alpy was shown on a mono-ski to demonstrate its athleticism and the colours of white, green and blue were used to represent purity/snow, hope/nature and discipline/the lake. The 1992 Games were where Australia won their first winter medals at the Paralympics. Michael Milton won Australia's first gold with a win in the Men's Slalom LW2. Milton also won a silver medal in the Men's Super G LW2. At these Games, Australia was represented by 5 male athletes. Australia was placed 12th in the overall medal tally for the Winter Games winning a total of 4 medals: 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze.
Australia competed at the 2002 Winter Paralympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States from 8 March to 19 March 2002. The Salt Lake Paralympics are the eighth such winter games, the first Winter Paralympics ever in North America and the first Winter Paralympics ever set up by an Olympic organizing committee. Although many of the Paralympic expenses were covered by dual planning with the Olympics, organizers still spent about $60 million on the Paralympics, including $5 million on the opening and closing ceremonies. The Salt Lake Games featured 92 events across four sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country, and ice sledge hockey. The 36 competing countries sent a total of 416 participants. Australia was represented by six male alpine skiers: Peter Boonaerts, Bart Bunting, Michael Milton, Scott Adams, Cameron Rahles-Rahbula, and Mark Drinnan. The medal haul was seven, consisting of six gold and one silver. Australia finished 8th overall in the gold and total medal count, making it the country's most successful Winter Games in terms of gold medals.
Cameron Rahles-Rahbula is a former Paralympic alpine skier from Australia. He won two bronze medals at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver. He represented Australia in four Paralympics, stating with the 2002 Winter Paralympics in Salt Lake City and the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Torino. He did not compete in any events at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi due to knee and ankle injuries suffered during the warm up for the downhill event of the Games but carried the Australian flag in the Parade of Nations at the Opening Ceremony. He also won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 2004 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Wildschönau, Austria, and a gold and a bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships in Jeongseon, Korea. He retired after the Sochi Games.
LW12 is a para-Alpine and para-Nordic sit skiing sport class defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). An LW12 skier needs to meet a minimum of one of several conditions including a single below knee but above ankle amputation, monoplegia that exhibits similar to below knee amputation, legs of different length where there is at least a 7 centimetres difference, combined muscle strength in the lower extremities less than 71. For international competitions, classification is done through IPC Alpine Skiing or IPC Nordic Skiing. For sub-international competitions, classification is done by a national federation such as Alpine Canada. For para-Alpine, this class is subdivided into two subclasses.: LW12.1 and LW12.2. A new sit-skier competitor with only national classification will compete as LW12.2 in international competitions until they have been internationally classified.
LW1 is a para-Alpine standing skiing classification for people with severe lower extreme disabilities in both extremities. It includes both skiers with amputations and cerebral palsy. International classification is done through International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing, and national classification through local national sport federations. LW1 classified skiers use outriggers, and two skis or one ski with a prosthesis. Other equipment is used during training such as ski-tips, ski-bras, and short skis.
LW2 is a para-Alpine and para-Nordic standing ski sport class defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Competitors in this class have severe disability in a lower limb, which may be a result of an amputation, or arthrodesis in the leg and hip. Depending on the type of skiing, the international classification process for LW2 skiers is handled by the IPC Alpine Skiing Technical Committee and IPC Nordic Skiing Technical Committee. National sport federations handle classification on the lower levels.
LW4 is a para-Alpine and para-Nordic standing skiing sport class defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for skiers who may have a disability in one lower extremity, which may be a result of a leg amputation below the knee, knee arthrodesis or a hip arthrodesis. For international skiing competitions, classification is done through IPC Alpine Skiing or IPC Nordic Skiing. A national federation such as Alpine Canada handles classification for domestic competitions.
The 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships was an international disability sport alpine skiing event held in Panorama Mountain Village, British Columbia, Canada from March 2 to 10, 2015. The Championship is held biannually by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and is the largest event of its type outside the Winter Paralympics.
The 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships was an international disability sport alpine skiing event held in La Molina ski resort in Spain from 18 to 27 February 2013. The Championship is held biannually by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and is the largest event of its type outside the Winter Paralympics.