Australia at the 2014 Winter Paralympics

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.

Australia at the
2014 Winter Paralympics
IPC codeAUS
NPCAustralian Paralympic Committee
Websitewww.paralympic.org.au
in Sochi
Competitors9 in 2 sports
Flag bearerCameron Rahles-Rahbula (Opening) Ben Tudhope (Closing)
Medals
Ranked 19th
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
2
Total
2
Officials15
Winter Paralympics appearances (overview)

The Australian Team's performance was affected by the death of para-snowboarder Matthew Robinson just prior to the Games, and injuries to Cameron Rahles-Rahbula and Joany Badenhorst forcing them to withdraw from their events.

Team Preparation

Australian Paralympic Winter Program members competed in competitions in Europe and the United States in the lead up to the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.[1] In September 2013, Australia hosted the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup at Thredbo, New South Wales. Australia finished the competition with three gold, three silver and one bronze medal to finish third on the medal tally behind the United States (eight gold, six silver, eight bronze medals) and Slovakia (eight gold, two silver, three bronze medals). Australia's Mitchell Gourley and Cameron Rahles-Rahbula won gold medals.[2]

Three team members – Toby Kane, Cameron Rahles-Rahbula and Mitchell Gourley undertook wind tunnel testing at Monash University in 2013 to assist them in determining their optimal aerodynamic position whilst skiing. [3]

Pre Games Skiing Accidents

The Australian Paralympic Team suffered two major skiing accidents just prior to the games. Matthew Robinson died after a boarding accident while competing at the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup,[4] Whilst Robinson's event was not included in the Games, he was an integral member of the Australian Paralympic snowboard team. Less than a day after being named as Australia's flagbearer for the Sochi Paralympics, Cameron Rahles-Rahbula was injured in a large crash during the Downhill training run of the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympic Games on the eve of the opening ceremony. Rahles-Rahbula suffered knee and ankle injuries that forced him to miss his races, but he still hoped to be able to compete in his pet event, the slalom, and in the giant slalom.[5] On 10 March 2014, it was revealed that Rahles-Rahbula has a knee fracture and would not be able to compete in any of his Paralympic events.[6]

Administration
Ben Tudhope was given the honour of carrying the flag for Australia at the Closing Ceremony

Kate McLoughlin was appointed the Chef de Mission in March 2013. This was the first time that a woman had been appointed a Chef de Mission.[7] However, she stepped down due to family reasons, and was replaced by Chris Nunn in November 2013.[8] The Australian Paralympic Committee announced that it cost AUD $1.5 million fund the Sochi campaign, with $200,000 of the budget still outstanding. To raise additional funds, it launched the "Believe" campaign.[9][10]

Team Support
PositionPersonReference
Chef de MissionChris Nunn[10]
Manager, Team OperationsCaroline Walker[10]
Team AttachéAdam Cormack[10]
Manager, Media and CommunicationsTim Mannion[10]
Manager, MultimediaSean Giles[10]
Head Coach, AlpineSteve Graham[10]
Assistant Coach, AlpineMichael Milton[10]
Coach, SnowboardPeter Higgins[10]
Ski TechnicianAlan Dean[10]
Ski TechnicianFrancis "Spike" Kullas[10]
Team DoctorDr Geoff Thompson[10]
Lead PhysiotherapistJonathon Davis[10]
PhysiotherapistJoel Cook[10]
Sport ScientistMarkus Klusemann[10]
Sports PsychologistSarah Jack[10]

Team
The Australian Team marches at the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, led by flagbearer Cameron Rahles-Rahbula.

On 4 February 2014, Australian Paralympic Committee announced a team of nine athletes, as well as two sighted guides, to attend the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics. Their head coach is Steve Graham.[1] Athletes selected were:

Alpine skiing
Snowboard cross

Victoria Pendergast became Australia's first female sit-skier to compete at a Winter Paralympics, and Ben Tudhope, who turned 14 in December 2013, became Australia's youngest competitor at the Winter Paralympics.[11] The 14-year-old Tudhope was the youngest competitor at the Games from any nation.[12] The team included three medallists from previous Winter Paralympics: Jessica Gallagher, Toby Kane and Cameron-Rahles-Rahbula. Four athletes and one guide made their Games debut.[11]

Ceremonies

Cameron Rahles-Rahbula, competing at his fourth Winter Paralympics, was named as the Australian flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony.[5][13] After being named flag bearer, Rahles-Rahbula had a skiing training accident that made his participation doubtful. He went on to carry the flag but withdrew from the Games on medical advice.[5] At Opening Ceremony, the entire Australian team of nine athletes, coaches, medical staff and administration officials wore the black arm bands to remember Matthew Robinson, who had recently died as a result of a skiing accident.[14] Ben Tudhope, the youngest competitor at the Games, carried the Australian flag at the Closing Ceremony.[12]

Medallists
Medal Name Sport Event Date
Toby Kane Alpine Skiing Men's Super combined standing 14 March
Jessica Gallagher /Christian Geiger (guide) Alpine Skiing Women's giant slalom visually impaired 15 March

[15]

Events
Melissa Perrine and her guide Andy Bor in the Women's Downhill at the 2014 Winter Paralympics

Alpine skiing
Main article: Alpine skiing at the 2014 Winter Paralympics

The International Paralympic Committee introduced para-snowboard as an alpine skiing discipline for the 2014 Games. These events are for standing athletes with a lower body disability.[1]

Women
Athlete Event Final Date
Run 1 Run 2 Total Time Rank
Jessica Gallagher /
Christian Geiger (guide) B3		 Slalom B & VI 1:04.09 1:38.46 2:42.55 7 14 March
Giant slalom B & VI 1:36.69 1:25.42 3:02.11 16 March
Melissa Perrine /
Andy Bor (guide) B2		 Downhill B & VI 1:36.15 4 8 March
Super G B & VI DNF 10 March
Super combined B & VI DSQ 11 March
Slalom B & VI DNF 14 March
Giant slalom B & VI DNF 16 March
Victoria Pendergast LW12-1 Slalom sit-ski 1:21.53 1:21.82 2:43.35 7 14 March
Giant slalom sit-ski 1:54.37 1:40.22 3:34.59 10 16 March
Joany Badenhorst Cross Lower Limb DNS 14 March

[15]
DNF – did not finish
DSQ – disqualified. Melissa Perrine was disqualified after the slalom leg of the Super combined for wearing a visor, which was taped to her helmet, to keep rain from her goggles. This was a breach of the IPC Alpine Skiing rules. Jason Hellwig, CEO of the Australian Paralympic Committee described it as "mindnumbingly-dumb mistake" as it was not picked up by relevant team officials. He indicated it was an honest mistake and there was no intention to cheat.[16]
DNS – Badenhorst was forced to withdraw from the event after suffering an injury to her left knee whilst training on the morning of the event.[15] [17]

Men
Athlete Event Final Date
Run 1 Run 2 Total Time Rank
Mitchell Gourley LW6/8-2 Downhill Standing 1:26.71 7 8 March
Slalom Standing 50.75 DNF 13 March
Giant slalom standing 1:16.16 DNF 15 March
Super G standing DNF 9 March
Super combined standing 53.63 1:20.75 2:14.38 5 11 March
Toby Kane LW2 Downhill Standing 1:26.25 6 8 March
Slalom Standing 48.69 54.56 1:43.48 4 13 March
Giant slalom Standing DNF 15 March
Super G Standing DNF 9 March
Super combined Standing 53.52 1:20.62 2:14.14 11 March
Cameron Rahles-Rahbula LW2 Downhill Standing DNS 8 March
Slalom Standing DNS 13 March
Giant slalom Standing DNS 15 March
Super G Standing DNS 9 March
Super combined Standing DNS 11 March
Trent Milton Cross Lower Limb 1:03.58 1:14.27 2:07.95 20 14 March
Ben Tudhope Cross Lower Limb 58.78 59.31 1:56.84 10 14 March

[15]
DNF – did not finish.
DNS – did not start. Cameron Rahles-Rahbula withdrew from all competitions after the Games commenced. This was due to injuries sustained in training just prior to the Games.

Broadcasting

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation showed a daily 30 minutes highlights program twice a day, and also streamed the alpine skiing and ice hockey live on its Grandstand website. The Games' opening ceremony was broadcast live. The presenters for the ABC's coverage were Amanda Shalala and Darren Boyd.[18]

Outcome

Australia finished the Games with two bronze medals. Jason Hellwig stated that the aim was to win between two and five medals. He said: "two medals absolutely is a pass ... so we're really pleased with that but we're absolutely disappointed we didn't get the mission done to win that gold medal, but I tell you what, we are absolutely determined to get it done in four years' time. It hasn't been easy, we've come in under the most difficult of circumstances that I've ever seen a team at a major Games."[12] Chris Nunn, Chef de Mission, pointed to the future by stating that "We really need to focus on having good-quality athletes who are robust and have financial support to get overseas. It's not like living in Austria, Sweden or Germany where you can do this on the weekend and after work."[19]

Toby Kane and Cameron Rahles-Rahbula indicated that Sochi Games would be their last Winter Paralympics. 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.[20]

gollark: what.
gollark: yes.
gollark: Specifically, veeeery basic differentiation and indefinite (I think that's the right term) integration.
gollark: <@263493613860814848> I know 0.6 calculus.
gollark: Which would still require learning it, probably...

References
  1. "Countdown to Sochi begins". Australian Paralympic Committee News. 22 October 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  2. "Racing cancelled on the final day of the World up". Australian Paralympic Committee News. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  3. Homfray, Reece (3 March 2014). "Australia's Winter Paralympic skiers go high-tech in search for glory". Courier Mail. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  4. "Australian Paralympian Matthew Robinson dies on way home from Spain World Cup". Courier Mail. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  5. Paxinos, Stathi (6 March 2014). "Cameron Rahles-Rahbula will remain Australian flagbearer despite injury at Sochi Paralympics". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  6. Paxinos, Stathi (10 March 2014). "Cameron Rahles-Rahbula out of Paralympics". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  7. "Paralympic team breaks new ground with female chef de mission Kate McLoughlin". The Australian. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  8. "Nunn in new Chef de Mission for Sochi 2014". Australian Paralympic Committee News. 26 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  9. "Australian Winter Paralympic Team announced". Australian Paralympic Committee News. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  10. "Media Guide : 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympic Games" (PDF). Australian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  11. "Australia names Winter Paralympics team for Sochi including 14-year-old Para-snowboarder Ben Tudhope". ABC News. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  12. Paxinos, Stathi (17 March 2014). "Sochi Winter Paralympics end in style". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  13. Paxinos, Stathi (5 March 2014). "Cameron Rahles-Rahbula named Australian Paralympic flagbearer". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  14. McDonald, Margie (7 March 2014). "Emotional tribute to fallen Paralympian Matthew Robinson". The Australian. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  15. "Latest results". Australian Paralympic Committee Sochi 2014. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  16. Paxinos, Stathi (12 March 2014). "Sochi Winter Paralympics: Australian team owns up to 'dumb' mistake". The Age. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  17. "Badenhorst out of Sochi para-snowboard". Yahoo News. 14 March 2014. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  18. "Winter Paralympics Sochi 2014". Australian Broadcasting Corporation website. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  19. Paxinos, Stathi (17 March 2014). "Australian Winter Paralympics team to rebuild after Sochi". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  20. Paxinos, Stathi (15 March 2014). "Sochi Winter Paralympics: Toby Kane becomes first Australian to win Games' top award". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
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