| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Australia |
| Born | 24 February 1989 |
| Sport | |
| Country | Australia |
| Sport | Para-alpine skiing |
| Disability class | B2 |
| Event(s) | Giant Slalom Slalom |
Shaun Pianta (born 24 February 1989) is a B2 classified visually impaired Para-alpine skier from Australia. His guide in 2018 is Jeremy O'Sullivan. He represented Australia at the 2018 Winter Paralympics.
Pianta was born in Collie, Western Australia on 24 February 1989. [1] In 2008, whilst holidaying in Bali, he contracted a superbug virus that attacked his optic nerve. He was flown back to Perth, Western Australia and while in hospital experienced kidney failure. [1] The virus left him with only 15 per cent of his vision. [1] He is a qualified boiler maker and welder and has a Certificate in Business. [1]
Prior to his loss of vision, he was an avid snowboarder. [1] He took up Para-alpine skiing in 2012 after a Disabled Wintersport Australia expo in Melbourne. [1] In December 2014, he broke both legs in a training run and spent three months in a wheelchair. [2] At the 2017 World Para-alpine Skiing Europa Cup event in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, Pianta and his guide Jeremy O'Sullivan won silver medals in the men's vision impaired super-G and giant slalom. [3] He competed in the men's slalom and giant slalom at the 2017 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships but failed to finish in both events. [3]
On 17 January 2018, he suffered a slight anterior cruciate ligament tear. Deciding against surgery, he undertook an intensive and highly structured rehabilitation process, including three weeks based at the Australian Institute of Sport. [4] [5]
On 6 March 2018, Pianta and sighted guide Jeremy O'Sullivan were selected in the Australian team to compete at the 2018 Winter Paralympics but he will be required to pass a final fitness test on his injured right knee ahead of his Paralympic debut on March 14. [5] At the 2018 Winter Paralympics, Pianta competed in two events - 14th in the Men's Giant Slalom Visually Impaired and did not finish in the Men's Slalom Visually Impaired. [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.
Paralympic alpine skiing has been competed at the Winter Paralympic Games since they were first held in 1976. Events include men's and women's downhill, Super G, giant slalom, slalom, and combined.
Jon Santacana Maiztegui is a Spanish B2 classified visually impaired para-alpine skier. His sighted ski guide is Miguel Galindo Garces. Santacana has competed at the IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, in the European Cup and the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup, and Spanish national competitions. He represented Spain at the 2002 Winter Paralympics, 2006 Winter Paralympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics, earning a gold medal and a pair of silver medals at the 2010 Games.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 International Paralympic Committee (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.
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.
Christian Geiger is an Australian Alpine skier, Paralympic alpine ski coach and sighted guide for visually impaired skiers. He was Jessica Gallagher's guide skier at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, winning a bronze medal. He represented Australia at the 2008 World Junior Alpine Skiing Championships and the 2009 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, but his career was cut short when he was severely injured in a traffic collision in 2009. He became Jessica Gallagher's sighted guide in 2013, and guided her to silver medals in women's slalom and giant slalom at the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup in Thredbo. Geiger was Melissa Perrine's guide and coach at the 2018 Winter Paralympics where she won two bronze medals.
Macmilton "Mac" Marcoux is a Canadian Paralympic alpine skier who won three titles at the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup at the age of 15. With guide Robin Femy, he won three medals in alpine skiing at the 2014 Winter Paralympics, including gold in the men's visually impaired giant slalom. He also has numerous awards including being inducted into the Sault Ste. Marie Walk of Fame. He has an older brother and a younger sister. He also enjoys riding BMX and mountain bikes.
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.
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.
Giacomo Bertagnolli is a male Italian paralympic alpine skier, and is a four-time Paralympic Games gold medal winner.
Serbia sent competitors to the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. One person on the team is para-Nordic skier Milos Zaric. In addition to para-Nordic skier, Zaric is also a para-athlete. He is the world champion in the men's F55 javelin.
Jeremy O’Sullivan is an Australian skier and sighted guide for visually impaired skiers. He was Shaun Pianta's guide at the 2018 Winter Paralympics.