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Para-alpine skiing classification is the classification system for para-alpine skiing designed to ensure fair competition between alpine skiers with different types of disabilities. The classifications are grouped into three general disability types: standing, blind and sitting. Classification governance is handled by International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing. Prior to that, several sport governing bodies dealt with classification including the International Sports Organization for the Disabled (ISOD), International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMWSF), International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) and Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA). Some classification systems are governed by bodies other than International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing, such as the Special Olympics. The sport is open to all competitors with a visual or physical disability. It is not open to people with intellectual disabilities.
Para-Nordic skiing classification is the classification system for para-Nordic skiing which includes the biathlon and cross-country events. The classifications for Para-Nordic skiing mirrors the classifications for Para-Alpine skiing with some exceptions. A functional mobility and medical classification is in use, with skiers being divided into three groups: standing skiers, sit skiers and visually impaired skiers. International classification is governed by International Paralympic Committee, Nordic Skiing (IPC-NS). Other classification is handled by national bodies. Before the IPC-NS took over classification, a number of organizations handled classification based on the type of disability.
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.
Millicent Genevieve Knight is a British skier and student who competes at international level for ParalympicsGB in alpine skiing in the slalom, giant slalom Super-G, super combined and Downhill events with a sighted guide, Brett Wild. When Knight was one year old, she contracted an illness, diagnosed at age three, which resulted in the loss of most of her vision by the age of six. She joined the Great Britain Paralympic skiing team in 2012, and progressed to compete at international-level events. Knight was the British flagbearer at Sochi in 2014 – her debut Paralympics - where, at the age of 15, she was the youngest person ever to compete for ParalympicsGB at the Winter Games. In the same year Knight also became an Honorary Doctor of the University of Kent.
Bibian Mentel-Spee was a Dutch three-fold Winter Paralympics gold-medalist, and five-times world champion para-snowboarding athlete. Mentel won the Paralympic gold medal in the snowboard cross discipline in the 2014 and 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, as well as in the banked slalom in 2018, despite battling cancer nine times since the beginning of the century. She won her 2018 medals at age 45.
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.
Anja Wicker is a German disabled cross-country skier and biathlete. She represented Germany at the 2014 Winter Paralympics claiming a gold and a silver medal in the biathlon events. She also represented Germany at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympics.
The Netherlands sent competitors to the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Four people competed in para-snowboarding. Five people competed in para-alpine skiing. Anna Jochemsen and Jeffrey Stuut are standing skiers. Linda van Impelen, Jeroen Kampschreur and Niels de Langen have all competed in all 5 para-alpine sit-ski events. Lisa Bunschoten, Bibian Mentel and Chris Vos all competed at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi. Renske van Beek was the only snowboarder on Team Netherlands who did not go to Sochi.
Jeroen Kampschreur is a Dutch paralympic skier. Kampschreur was born without shinbones, which resulted in both of his legs being amputated above the knee at age one. Consequently, he began using a wheelchair. On 23 March 2018, Kampschreur was knighted in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Linda Johanna Wilhelmina van Impelen is a Dutch paralympic alpine skier. She represents the Netherlands in various alpine disciplines. She won a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Paralympics.
The Netherlands sent a delegation to compete at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, held between 7–16 March 2014. The Netherlands delegation consisted of seven competitors, all of which were competing in sports under the alpine skiing banner. Bibian Mentel won the nation's only medal at these Paralympics, a gold in women's snowboard cross. With one gold medal, the Netherlands ranked a joint 14th place on the medal table with Switzerland.
Niels de Langen is a Dutch para-alpine skier. He won two medals in alpine skiing at the 2022 Winter Paralympics.
Jeffrey Stuut is a Dutch para-alpine skier.
Canada competed at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, China which took place between 4–13 March 2022.
Netherlands competed at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, China which took place between 4–13 March 2022. In total, eight competitors competed in two sports.
Belgium competed at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, China which took place between 4–13 March 2022. Two alpine skiers competed.
Austria competed at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, China which took place between 4–13 March 2022. In total, 16 athletes competed in four sports.
Linda Le Bon is a para-athlete. She competes for Austria in paraclimbing and previously competed for her native country Belgium in para-alpine skiing. She competes in the B2 category, which is for visually impaired athletes. She has a vision impairment as a result of macular degeneration.
Barbara van Bergen is a Dutch wheelchair basketball player and para-alpine skier.
References
- ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Pierre Couquelet Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- ↑ "Paralympische Winterspelen: Linda Le Bon is eerste geselecteerde Belgische atlete". Nieuwsblad.be (in Dutch). 22 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ↑ "Skiërs Linda Le Bon en Rémi Mazi vertegenwoordigen België op de Paralympische Spelen". Sporza.be (in Dutch). 24 February 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ↑ "Antwerpse Linda Le Bon zonder haar geschorste voorskiër naar Paralympics". Antwerps persbureau (in Dutch). 2 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
