 2022 Winter Paralympics Portrait | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Australia |
| Born | 7 August 1997 |
| Sport | |
| Country | Australia |
| Sport | Para-alpine skiing |
| Disability class | LW12-2 |
Josh Hanlon (born 7 August 1997) is an Australian Paralympic alpine skier who represented Australia at the 2022 Winter Paralympics. [1]
Josh Hanlon was born on 7 August 1997. He comes from Weethalle, New South Wales. [2] At age 20, Hanlon 's had severe bacterial infection, which resulted in toxic shock and sepsis and led to him becoming a double below-knee amputee and the loss of his right hand at the wrist. [3] Hanlon is studying for a Certificate 3 and 4 in physical fitness. [3]
Prior to his Para alpine sit skiing career, Hanlon was a member Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy teams from the age of 15 to 19. [3] In 2019, he became a member Australian Winter Para-alpine development squad. He is classified as an LW12-2 skier. [3] Hanlon travelled overseas with the Australian Winter Para-alpine development squad during the 2019–20 season. [3]
At the 2021 World Para Snow Sports Championships in Lillehammer, he finished 16th in the Giant Slalom Sitting. [4]
Hanlon at the 2022 Winter Paralympics competed in two events and finished sixth in the Slalom Sitting and 11th in the Giant Slalom Sitting. [5]
At the end of the 2023/2024 World Cup season, he was ranked 11th overall in men's sitting category, ninth in slalom and 12th in giant slalom. [6]
Paralympic alpine skiing is an adaptation of alpine skiing for athletes with a disability. The sport evolved from the efforts of disabled veterans in Germany and Austria during and after the Second World War. The sport is governed by the International Paralympic Committee Sports Committee. The primary equipment used includes outrigger skis, sit-skis, and mono-skis. Para-alpine skiing disciplines include the downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, super combined, and snowboard.
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.
LW10 is a para-alpine and para-Nordic sit-skiing classification for skiers who cannot sit up without support. For international skiing competitions, classification is conducted by IPC Alpine Skiing and IPC Nordic Skiing, while national federations such as Alpine Canada handle classification for domestic competitions.
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.
LW5/7 is a standing para-alpine and para-Nordic skiing classification for skiers with upper extremity issues in both limbs that may include double amputation of both arms and hands or dysmelia of the upper limbs. The class has three subclasses defined by the location of the disability on the upper extremities. International classification is done by IPC Alpine Skiing and IPC Nordic Skiing. On the national level, classification is handled by national sports federation such as Cross-Country Canada.
LW6/8 is a para-alpine and para-Nordic standing skiing sport class, a classification defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for people with an upper extremity issue who have paralysis, motor paresis affecting one arm, a single upper arm amputation or CP8 classified cerebral palsy. LW6/8 skiers use two skis and one pole in both para-alpine and para-Nordic skiing.
LW9 is a para-alpine and para-Nordic standing skiing sport class, a classification defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for people with upper and lower limb function problems, and includes cerebral palsy skiers classified CP5, CP6 and CP7, along with people with hemiplegia or amputations. 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. This classification is separated into two subclasses including LW9.1 and LW9.2.
Mitchell Gourley is an Australian Paralympic alpine skier who competed for Australia in the downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom and super combined events at four Winter Paralympics - 2010 to 2022. He was Australian team co-captain with Joany Badenhorst at the 2018 Winter Paralympics. At the 2022 Winter Paralympics, he and Melissa Perrine carried the Australian flag in the opening ceremony. At the 2017 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy he won the gold medal in the men's Super Combined Standing.
Victoria "Tori" Pendergast is an Australian F58 athletics shot put competitor and LW12.1 classified Para-alpine skier. When she competed at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, she became Australia's first female sit skier at the Winter Paralympics. She competed in two events, finishing seventh in women's slalom sit-ski and tenth in the women's giant slalom sit-ski. She also won a silver and a bronze medal in the slalom and super-G at the 2013 North America Cup, and a bronze medal in the giant slalom at the 2013 IPC World Cup in Thredbo.
James Whitley is a British alpine skier, who competes in the slalom, giant slalom SuperG, Downhill and Super Combined events. A promising junior skier, Whitley qualified to represent Great Britain's team at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi for his debut Paralympics. In January 2018 it was announced by BPA and PSGB (ParaSnowSportsGB) that Whitley had been selected to compete in Pyeongchang in the 2018 Winter Paralympics. In February 2022, Whitley was named by the BPA as part of the ParalympicsGB squad for the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics.
Jonty O'Callaghan is an Australian para-alpine skier who competes in downhill racing. He represented Australia at the 2018 Winter Paralympics and was selected for 2022 Winter Paralympics but withdrew from the team due to a serious training accident on 17 February 2022 that led to concussion and a broken collarbone.
Menna Fitzpatrick MBE is a British alpine skier. She is visually impaired having only 5% vision and formerly skied with guide Jennifer Kehoe until 2021. They competed at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang in March 2018 where they took four medals, including a gold in the slalom, making Fitzpatrick Team GB's most decorated Winter Paralympian.
Sam Tait is an Australian Paralympic alpine skier who represented Australia at the 2018 Winter Paralympics and 2022 Winter Paralympics.
Patrick Jensen is a B2 classified visually impaired Para-alpine skier from Australia. He represented Australia at the 2018 Winter Paralympics and the 2022 Winter Paralympics.
Jesper Saltvik Pedersen is a para-alpine skier. He is a six-time medalist, including four gold medals, at the Winter Paralympics.
Igor Sikorski is a German-born Polish male paralympic alpine skier. He made his Paralympic debut during the 2018 Winter Paralympics and claimed Poland's only medal at the 2018 Winter Paralympics after clinching a bronze medal in the men's giant slalom event.
Niels de Langen is a Dutch para-alpine skier. He won two medals in alpine skiing at the 2022 Winter Paralympics.
Amelia Hodgson is an Australian skier and sighted guide for visually impaired skiers. She was Patrick Jensen's guide at the 2022 Winter Paralympics.
Shona Brownlee MBE is a British skier and Royal Air Force Corporal. She won two medals at the 2021 World Para Snow Sports Championships, and competed at the 2022 Winter Paralympics.
René De Silvestro is an Italian para alpine skier who competed at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympics. He won a silver and bronze medal at the 2022 Winter Paralympics.