Mitchell Gourley

Last updated

Mitchell Gourley
Mitchell Gourley 01 edit.jpg
Mitchell Gourley in April 2021
Personal information
NationalityFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Born (1991-06-02) 2 June 1991 (age 33)
Geelong, Victoria
Sport
CountryAustralia
Sport Para-alpine skiing
Disability class LW6/8
Event(s) Downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, super combined
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finals 2010 Winter Paralympics, 2014 Winter Paralympics
Medal record
Alpine skiing
IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2017 Tarvisio, ItalyMen's Super Combined Standing
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2019 Kranjska Gora, Slovenia Men's slalom Standing

Mitchell Gourley (born 2 June 1991) 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. [1] At the 2022 Winter Paralympics, he and Melissa Perrine carried the Australian flag in the opening ceremony. [2] At the 2017 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy he won the gold medal in the men's Super Combined Standing.

Contents

Personal

Mitchell Gourley was born just outside Geelong, Victoria, on 2 June 1991. [3] [4] [5] He was born a congenital amputee, with his left forearm ending a few inches below his elbow. [6] Mitchell can move the tiny stump of his forearm and uses it to hold and manipulate objects by gripping them in his elbow. He plays a variety of sports including cricket, Australian rules football, basketball, road cycling and rock-climbing. [3] He attended at Geelong College. [7] In 2014, he completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne and in 2019 completed a Master of Business (Sport Management) at Deakin University. [8] [9]

Skiing

Cameron Rahles Rahbula, Mitchell Gourley and Toby Kane interview originally done for Wikinews

Gourley became involved in high level Paralympic skiing as a result of Australian talent identification efforts, [10] taking up the sport competitively in 2002 as an eleven-year-old. [3] He was classified as LW6/8-2, [11] the classification for athletes with an impairment to one arm, [12] and made his Australian national team début in 2006, as a fifteen-year-old. [3] He has held scholarships with the Victorian Institute of Sport and the Australian Institute of Sport. [13]

At the 2009 Norm Cup, Gourley finished first in the men's standing class giant slalom event. [14] In the same year, he competed in the IPC Alpine Skiing Nor Am Cup in Colorado. [14] He was officially named to the Australian 2010 Winter Paralympics team in November 2009. [15] A ceremony was held in Canberra with Australian Paralympic Committee president Greg Hartung and Minister for Sport Kate Ellis making the announcement. [16]

Gourley competed at the 2010 IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup in Italy and World Cup in Austria. [14] Going into the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games, his best ever world ranking was 17th. [3] He attempted to bulk up and put on additional weight by eating six to eight meals a day. [7] He arrived in the Paralympic village with the rest of Australia's Para-alpine team on 9 March 2010. [17] Coached by Steve Graham, [3] he competed in the downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom and super combined events. [18] [19] In the super-G standing event, he finished 10th. [4] [20] He also finished 27th in the slalom. [21] [22] [23] He came 30th in the giant slalom event. [24]

Gourley talks to the media after a race at Sochi 2014 Paralympics Sochi2014 D6 M-SL M Gourley362(1).jpg
Gourley talks to the media after a race at Sochi 2014 Paralympics

At the December 2011 IPC Nor Am Cup, Gourley won his first gold medal in international competition in the giant slalom, [25] but was beaten by New Zealand's Adam Hall and Australian teammate Toby Kane in the slalom. [26] He competed at a February 2012 World Cup event in Italy in the slalom, but did not place in the event. After sitting in fourth place after his first run, he missed a gate in his second run and was disqualified. [27] He won a gold medal in the giant slalom with a combined run time of 2:03.15, 0.43 seconds faster than the silver medallists. It was the first gold medal he had won at a World Cup. [25]

Gourley started the 2013/14 World Cup season with strong results, with two gold, three silver and one bronze medal. [11] At the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, he competed in five events. He finished 5th in the men's super combined standing, 7th in the men's downhill standing, and failed to finish in three events. [28] [29]

At the 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Panorama, Canada, Gourley competed in five Men's Standing events. He finished fourth in the giant slalom and fifth in the Super-G. [30]

Gourley competes in the SuperG event at the 2018 PyeongChang Paralympics PC18 D2-SGS 705.jpg
Gourley competes in the SuperG event at the 2018 PyeongChang Paralympics

He finished the 2015/16 World Cup season on a high, placing third on the overall rankings after a successful run of events that saw him podium nine times. [31]

Gourley won the gold medal in the men's Super Combined Standing at the 2017 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy. Gourley was in sixth place after the super-G, but put on a masterclass in the slalom to secure the gold. [32]

His results at the 2018 Winter Paralympics, his third Games, were: fifth in the men's Super Combined Standing, sixth in the men's slalom Standing, eighth in the men's giant slalom Standing, 12th in the men's Super-G Standing and did not finish in the men's Downhill Standing. [33] [34]

At the 2019 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, he won the bronze medal in Men's slalom Standing and finished fourth in the men's giant slalom Standing. [35]

At the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, he finished 10th in the giant slalom Standing, 13th in Super Combined Standing and 20th in Downhill Standing. He did not finish in the slalom Standing and Super G Standing. [36] Gourley indicated that the Beijing Games would be his last Winter Paralympics.

In 2022, he is a member of the Athlete Commission for World Para Alpine Skiing and Paralympics Australia Athlete Commission. [37]

Recognition

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Para-alpine skiing</span> Skiing for people with disabilities

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toby Kane</span> Australian para-alpine skier

Toby Kane is an Australian Paralympian who won a bronze medal in the men's super G Standing at the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Torino and a bronze medal in the men's super G standing in his third Winter Paralympics at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi. Invited to join the Australian Winter Paralympic Development team when he was just 11, he became the youngest member of the Australian team in Torino at the age of 19. He had the honour of being Australia's flag bearer at the closing ceremony in Torino, and at the opening ceremony in Vancouver. Towards the end of the Sochi Games, Kane and Dutch snowboarder Bibian Mentel-Spee were named winners of the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award, which is presented at every Paralympic Games for outstanding performances and overcoming adversity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia at the 1998 Winter Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

The 1998 Winter Paralympics were held in Nagano, Japan from 5–14 March 1998. At the Games, Australia was represented by four male alpine skiers. Australia tied for 16th place with Denmark, out of 21 Nations on the overall medal tally. James Patterson, an LW9 standing skier, won Australia's two medals - one gold and one bronze.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia at the 1994 Winter Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

The 1994 Winter Paralympics were held in Lillehammer, Norway. Australia sent six male skiers, who won three gold, two silver and four bronze medals. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron Rahles-Rahbula</span> Australian Paralympic alpine skier

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 sustained 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.

Steve Graham is a retired Australian Paralympic winter sport coach. He was head coach of Australia's Winter Paralympic team for the 1994 Winter Paralympics, 2006 Winter Paralympics, 2010 Winter Paralympics and 2014 Winter Paralympics. As of 2014, after the Sochi winter Paralympics Graham ceased to be the current head coach of the Australian Paralympic Committee's Winter Paralympic program.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LW11</span> Disability skiing classification

LW11 is a para-alpine and para-Nordic sit skiing sport class, a classification defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC for people with paralysis in the lower extremities and people with cerebral palsy that affects the lower half of the body. Outside of skiing, the competitor in this class is unable to walk. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LW10</span> Sit-skiing classification for disabled skiers

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LW2 (classification)</span> Disability skiing classification

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.

LW3 is a para-alpine and para-Nordic standing skiing sport class defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for skiers with a disability affecting both legs, with double below knee amputation or a combined strength total for both legs of 60, with 80 as the baseline for people without disabilities. For international skiing competitions, classification is done through IPC Alpine Skiing or IPC Nordic Skiing. The classification has two subclasses for para-alpine skiing: LW3.1 which is for people with double below the knee amputations or similar disabilities, and LW3.2 which is for people with cerebral palsy that involves moderate athetoid, moderate ataxic impairment or slight diplegic involvement.

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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LW6/8</span> Skiing sport class

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melissa Perrine</span> Australian para-alpine skier

Melissa Perrine is a B2 classified visually impaired para-alpine skier from Australia. She has competed at the four Winter Paralympics from 2010 to 2022. At the 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, she won three gold, one silver and one bronze medals. At the 2018 Winter Paralympics, she won two bronze medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Bor</span> Australian former ski coach and sighted guide

Andy Bor is an Australian former ski coach and sighted guide for visually impaired skiers. He was a coach at the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Torino, and was Melissa Perrine's guide skier at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver and 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia at the 2014 Winter Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Australia sent nine competitors to the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia. The delegation also consisted of two sighted guides and 15 support staff. The team won two bronze medals. Toby Kane won a bronze medal in the men's Super combined standing, and Jessica Gallagher and guide Christian Geiger won one in the women's giant slalom visually impaired event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexey Bugaev</span> Russian para-alpine skier

Alexey Sergeyevich Bugaev is a Russian para-alpine skier who competed at the 2014 Winter Paralympics, winning five medals. He won the International Sports Prize World Athlete of the Year award in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonty O'Callaghan</span> Australian para-alpine skier

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.

References

  1. ↑ "Australian Paralympic Team Named For Beijing 2022 Winter Games". Paralympics Australia. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  2. ↑ "Full Circle For Australia's Beijing 2022 Flagbearers | Paralympics Australia" . Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mitchell Gourley". Vancouver 2010. 2010. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Aussies off the pace in super-G – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. 20 March 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  5. ↑ McDonald, Margie (15 March 2012). "Speedster Marty Mayberry lifts hopes of medal". Australia: The Australian. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "Mitchell Gourley". YouTube 2013. 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Geelong Winter Paralympian has weight on his mind". Geelong Advertiser. 26 June 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "Mitchell Gourley". Organizing Committee of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in Sochi. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  9. 1 2 "James goes back-to-back". Victorian Institute of Sport website. Retrieved 21 November 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ "Disabled Wintersport Australia 2010 Annual Report" (PDF). Australia: Disabled Wintersport Australia. 2010. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  11. 1 2 "Mitchell Gourley". Australian Paralympic Committee Athlete Profile. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "2014 Australian Paralympic Winter Team Media Guide" (PDF). Australian Paralympic Committee . Retrieved 13 April 2014.[ permanent dead link ]
  13. ↑ Ellis, Kate (11 March 2010). "Winter Paralympians to inspire a nation" (PDF). Australia. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  14. 1 2 3 "Geelong paralympian Mitch Gourley wins Canadian call up – Local News – Geelong, VIC, Australia". Geelongadvertiser.com.au. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  15. ↑ "Paralympic Team for Vancouver sprinkled with experience". Australia: The Australian. 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  16. ↑ Browning, Jennifer (25 November 2009). "Winter Paralympics team biggest yet". Australia: ABC Grandstand Sport. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  17. ↑ McDonald, Margie (8 March 2010). "Australian assault on Paralympics takes shape in Vancouver". The Australian. Australia. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "Features | Twenty Ten | Following Australian & New Zealand Winter Athletes by Mountainwatch". Mountainwatch. 3 February 2010. Archived from the original on 1 October 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  19. ↑ Lulham, Amanda (18 March 2010). "A battle against bugs and breaks". The Courier Mail. Brisbane, Australia. p. 79. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  20. ↑ "WEEKEND SCOREBOARD". The Australian. Australia. 22 March 2010. p. 40. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  21. ↑ "Rahles-Rahbula wins Paralympics bronze". Wwos.ninemsn.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  22. ↑ "Slalom bronze for Rahles-Rahbula – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  23. ↑ "Aussie skiers look for redemption". Wwos.ninemsn.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  24. ↑ "Aussie eyes standing slalom medal – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  25. 1 2 "Gourley wins first gold on the slopes". Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee. 3 February 2012. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  26. ↑ "Paralympics: Hall gets season underway in winning fashion". Otago Daily Times. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  27. ↑ "Podium for Kane in Spain". Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  28. ↑ "Sochi 2014 Latest Results". Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  29. ↑ McDonald, Margie (4 February 2014). "Paralympians put energy into alpine skiing for Sochi". The Australian. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  30. ↑ "Mitchell Gourley". International Paralympic Committee Athlete Profiles. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  31. ↑ "Big Season Ahead for Australian skiers". Australian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  32. ↑ "Maiden world titles for skiers Bertagnolli, Gourley". International Paralympic Committee News. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  33. ↑ "Mitchell Gourley". 2018 Winter Paralympics Official site. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  34. ↑ "Australian Paralympic Winter Team for PyeongChang 2018 announced". Australian Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  35. ↑ "Alpine Worlds 2019: Double delight". International Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  36. ↑ "Mitchell Gourley". 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics Official Results. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  37. 1 2 "Full Circle For Australia's Beijing 2022 Flagbearers". Paralympics Australia. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  38. ↑ "Cox and James crowned Australian Snowsports Athlete of the Year". Ski and Snowboard Australia. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  39. ↑ "Winners announced for Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards". Disability Sport & Recreation Victoria. 18 August 2017. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  40. ↑ "Cooke earns Top Award". Victorian Institute of Sport website. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  41. ↑ "Matildas and Kerr Australia's fan favourites at AIS awards". Australian Sports Commission website. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  42. ↑ "2018 Australian Paralympic Team Co-captains announced". Australian Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
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