Peter Williams (alpine skier)

Last updated

Peter Williams
Personal information
NicknamePete
Born (1983-10-19) 19 October 1983 (age 41) [1]
Auckland, New Zealand
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
Sport Para-alpine skiing
Events
  • Super-G
  • Giant slalom
  • Slalom
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finals
  • 19th (giant slalom, 2010)
  • 22nd (slalom, 2010)
Highest world ranking13th (slalom, 2008–09)

Peter Williams (born 19 October 1983) is a New Zealand Olympic para-alpine sit-skier from Auckland. He graduated from the Auckland University of Technology in 2005. Passing on the 2002 Winter Paralympics in order to pursue his education, he competed at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in the giant slalom, where he finished 19th, and the slalom where he finished 22nd.

Contents

Personal

Williams has spina bifida, [2] and, at birth, doctors predicted a short life expectancy of only three weeks for him. They told his mother not to bother to feed him, [3] Williams remarked in a TVNZ interview. [4] He has had over forty surgeries related to his spina bifida. [5] Originally from the Auckland area, [6] [7] during the southern winter he lived in the ski resort town of Wānaka and in the northern ski season was based in Winter Park[ failed verification ]. [8]

In 1992, he competed in the Kiwi Kids Triathlon, and was the first child with a disability to do so. [5] He attended Auckland University of Technology where he earned a bachelor of communications in 2005 after majoring in television production. [5] In 2010, he was a finalist for New Zealand snowsport emerging talent of the year. [9]

Skiing

Williams learned to ski as a standing skier, [2] but changed to a sit-ski in 1996. [2] He is a LW11-classified skier. [10] He decided to forego competing in the 2002 Winter Paralympics in order to finish high school. [5] At the 2008 Huntsman Cup, he finished second in the slalom event. [11] He took up skiing again in order to prove to potential employers that his wheelchair was not an impediment for him to work at a high level. [3] At the 2009 Cardrona Disabled National Championships, he finished second in the Super G with a time of 52.81 seconds, second in the giant slalom with a time of 48.45 seconds, and second in the slalom with a time of 54.28 seconds. He was beaten in every event by teammate Adam Hall. [7]

At the 2009 NZ Winter Games Adaptive Giant slalom competition, competing in the giant slalom men's sitting event, he finished sixth. [8] [12] He finished fourth in the slalom. [12] He was one of two New Zealanders to compete at the 2010 Winter Paralympics. [13] The 2010 Paralympics were his first attendance. [14]

Competing at the 2010 Winter Paralympics, he participated in two events: the slalom and the giant slalom. [15] He finished twentieth in the men's sitting giant slalom. He completed his first run with a time of 1:34.16, leaving him in twenty-seventh place. Following a weather-delayed second run, he had a combined time of 3:11.86 for both runs. [6] [16] [17] On the day of the giant slalom, he was on the hill for the competition by 6:30am and off the mountain at 5:00pm. [16] He finished twenty-second in the slalom, with a combined run time of 2:05.55. [2]

Post skiing

Post the Paralympic Games, Williams' career has revolves around marketing and operations for a wide variety of mobility equipment companies. Williams serves on a number of boards. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand at the 2010 Winter Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

New Zealand sent a delegation to take part in the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The country fielded two athletes, both in alpine skiing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Hall (alpine skier)</span> New Zealand para-alpine skier (born 1987)

Adam James Hall is a New Zealand alpine skier and double Paralympic gold medalist.

The 2009 New Zealand Winter Games was a multi-sport event that was held in the Otago region of New Zealand. It was the inaugural New Zealand Winter Games and was organised by the Winter Games New Zealand Trust. Approximately 816 athletes from 41 nations participated in 51 event in seven disciplines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia at the 1980 Winter Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Following the success of the first ever 1976 Winter Paralympics in Örnsköldsvik four years earlier, Norway was selected to host the Paralympic Games in 1980.

<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">Mitchell Gourley</span> Australian Paralympic alpine skier

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.

<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">Mark Soyer</span> Australian para-alpine skier

Mark Soyer is an Australian para-alpine LW11 classified skier. He dealt with leukaemia twice as a child. At the age of 26, he severed his spinal cord during an accident while riding his motorbike on his parents' farm, and subsequently tried several different sports. Working as a manufacturing jeweller and gemologist in Melbourne, he has also been involved with para-skiing as a volunteer, and serving in administrative roles for various organisations. In 2007, he was a finalist for the Pride of Australia awards for courage.

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

Greece sent a delegation to compete at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia from 7–16 March 2014. This was Greece's third appearance at a Winter Paralympic Games. Their only athlete was alpine skier Efthymios Kalaras. He suffered a spinal cord injury two decades before these Paralympics, and was a returning Paralympic silver medalist from the 2004 Summer Paralympics in the discus throw. He finished 22nd in the sitting giant slalom, nearly a minute behind the gold medal time.

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

Iceland sent a delegation to compete at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia from 7–16 March 2014. This was Iceland's third time participating at a Winter Paralympic Games. The Icelandic delegation consisted of two alpine skiers, Erna Friðriksdóttir and Jóhann Þór Hólmgrímsson. Jóhann finished 23rd in the men's sitting giant slalom, while Erna finished 10th in the women's sitting slalom and 9th in the women's sitting giant slalom.

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

New Zealand sent a delegation to compete at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, held between 7–16 March 2014. The country continued its streak of competing in every Winter Paralympics since 1984. New Zealand's delegation consisted of three competitors in alpine skiing, one of whom, Corey Peters, won a silver medal in the giant slalom. With one silver medal, the country tied for 16th on the medal table for these Paralympics.

Adam Barwood is an alpine skier from New Zealand. He competed for New Zealand at the 2014 Winter Olympics in the slalom and giant slalom. Adam's career in ski racing began at Coronet Peak in 2001 with a school holiday programme learning to ski and weekends, to where he now a full-time athlete. He has also spent time training at Cardrona and Treble Cone. Since 2004, summers have been spent in the northern hemisphere continuing the training in Europe, Canada and the USA. Adam participated in the Olympics in Sochi, Russia February 2014 in slalom and giant slalom (44th).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Whitley (alpine skier)</span> British alpine skier

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.

Piera Hudson is a New Zealand alpine ski racer. Piera Hudson went to the first ever youth olympics in Innsbruck Austria in 2012.

<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.

Carl Murphy is a New Zealand Para-snowboard cross racer who competed at the 2014 Winter Paralympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menna Fitzpatrick</span> British para-alpine skier

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Robinson</span> New Zealand skier

Alice Robinson is a New Zealand World Cup alpine ski racer. At age sixteen, she competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in giant slalom and slalom. She represented New Zealand in the giant slalom event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Peters (alpine skier)</span> New Zealand alpine skier and Paralympic medalist

Corey Nathan Peters is a New Zealand alpine skier and Paralympic medalist. He has represented New Zealand at three Paralympics.

Jennifer Kehoe British Army officer and skier

Major Jennifer "Jen" Kehoe is an author and former professional skier, formerly competing with visually impaired athlete Menna Fitzpatrick as her sighted guide on the IPC World Cup circuit and has represented Great Britain winning four medals including gold at the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Games in South Korea becoming Britains most decorated winter Paralympians. She was a British Army Officer.

References

  1. ↑ "Peter Williams". Paralympics New Zealand . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Paralympics New Zealand". Paralympics.org.nz. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  3. 1 2 Hope For The Hopeless (14 March 2010). "Sunday March 14: Power of two – Sunday News". TVNZ. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Sunday : Power of two (Television production). TVNZ. 14 March 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "About Pete Williams and his Paralympics career". Petewilliams.co.nz. Archived from the original on 5 April 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Paralympics: Williams improves to 20th – Sport – NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  7. 1 2 Hotton, Mark (19 August 2009). "Three gold medals for Wanaka's Hall". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Germany Scoops Pool At 100% Pure NZ Winter Games Adaptive Giant slalom". Voxy.co.nz. 29 August 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  9. ↑ Burdon, Nathan (23 June 2010). "Hall, Wells vie for main title". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  10. ↑ "History of the New Zealand Disabled Ski Team » Snow Sports New Zealand". Snowsports.co.nz. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  11. ↑ "NZ paralympian ski racer takes US title – Story – 3 Sport". 3 News. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Snow Sports NZ – Newsletter Issue 12 – Spring 2009". Zeus-sport.com. Retrieved 29 October 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  13. ↑ Savory, Logan (17 March 2010). "Hall realises Paralympic dream". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  14. ↑ Burdon, Nathan (14 March 2010). "Paralympics dream for Hall realised today". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  15. ↑ "Peter Williams". Paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee . Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  16. 1 2 "Paralympian Peter Williams Finishes 20th in Men's GS – News –". Snow.co.nz. 15 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  17. ↑ Lynch, Keith (17 March 2010). "Eye on more medals – news – the-press". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  18. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/in/petewilliamsmarketing/ [ self-published source ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.