| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Australia |
| Born | 2 June 1982 |
| Sport | |
| Country | Australia |
Taryn Dickens (born 2 June 1982) is an Australian para skier with a vision impairment. [1] She has been selected to compete in biathlon and cross-country skiing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.She will become the first Australian female to compete in biathlon. [2]
Dickens was born on 2 June 1982 in Brisbane, Queensland. In 2017, she enlisted Weapons Rate Electronics Technician in the Royal Australian Navy. In her mid thirties, as an Able Seaman in the Royal Australian Navy she started to experience degenerative vision loss. [3] In 2019, she was diagnosed with cone-rod dystrophy. [4] After her diagnosis, Gigi, became her assistance dog. She is married to Dee. [4]
In 2023, she was classified as B3 vision impaired skier. Her military background led to her taking at biathlon so that she could participate at the Paralympics. She took up skiing in May 2022 and after two weeks of learning to ski competed in the 42km Kangaroo Hoppet at Falls Creek. Dickens first tri military service biathlon competition as at Exercise Coolshot in August 2022. [3]
Prior to her diagnosis, she was a competitive cyclist, played soccer and muay thai. She co-captained the 2023 Australian Invictus Games team where she competed in cycling, powerlifting and indoor rowing. [5]
Her guide at the 2026 Winter Paralympics is Lynn Cullen.