Australia at the 2010 Winter Paralympics

At the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada[3] Australia sent ever of 11 competitors to compete against 42 other nations with a total of 502 competitors making these Paralympics the largest ever with only 39 countries competing at Torino in 2006.[4] Of these other nations, 2010 was the first winter paralympics for Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Romania, Russian Federation, and Serbia.[4] The delegation also consisted of 3 sighted guides and 17 support staff. This was the largest delegation Australia had sent to a Winter Paralympics. Australia has participated in every winter Paralympics. In 2010, Dominic Monypenny became the fourth Australian athlete to participate in both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, the others being Kyrra Grunnsund, Anthony Bonaccurso, and Michael Milton.[5] In the lead-up to the 2010 winter Games, nine of the 11 Australian athletes had recorded top 10 finishes in Paralympic, world cup or world championship competition in their class.

Australia at the
2010 Winter Paralympics
IPC codeAUS
NPCAustralian Paralympic Committee
Websitewww.paralympic.org.au
in Vancouver
Competitors11 in 2 sports
Flag bearer Toby Kane (Opening)[1] Cameron Rahles-Rahbula (Closing)[2]
Medals
Ranked 16th
Gold
0
Silver
1
Bronze
3
Total
4
Officials15
Winter Paralympics appearances (overview)

Disability classification

Every participant at the Paralympics has their disability grouped into one of five disability categories; amputation, the condition may be congenital or sustained through injury or illness; cerebral palsy; wheelchair athletes, there is often overlap between this and other categories; visual impairment, including blindness; and les autres, any physical disability that does not fall strictly under one of the other categories, for example dwarfism or multiple sclerosis.[6][7] Each Paralympic sport then has its own classifications, dependent upon the specific physical demands of competition. Events are given a code, made of numbers and letters, describing the type of event and classification of the athletes competing. Events with "B" in the code are for athletes with visual impairment, codes LW1 to LW9 are for athletes who stand to compete and LW10 to LW12 are for athletes who compete sitting down. For the 2010 Paralympics alpine skiing events grouped athletes into sitting, standing and visually impaired categories.[8] The same three classifications are also used to group competitors in cross-country skiing.[9]

Athlete classifications
Andrew Bor (guide) and Melissa Perrine, 2010 Australian Paralympic Team Athlete, at the Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games.

Of the 11 competitors that competed at the 2010 Paralympics, classifications varied:

Athlete Classification Congenital or Acquired
Melissa Perrine

Andrew Bor (Guide)

 B2 Congenital
Jessica Gallagher

Eric Bickerton (Guide)

 B3 Congenital
Bart Bunting B1 Congenital
Shannon Dallas LW11 (Sitting Class) Acquired (workplace accident)
Mitchell Gourley LW6/8 (Standing Class) Congenital
Toby Kane LW2 (Standing Class) Acquired (Car accident)
Marty Mayberry LW3 (Standing Class) Acquired (Meningococcal)
James Millar LW8 (Standing Class) Congenital
Dominic Monypenny LW12 (Sitting Class) Acquired (Fall)
Cameron Rahles-Rahbula LW2 (Standing Class) Acquired (Cancer)
Nicholas Watts LW2 (Standing Class) Acquired (Cancer)

Administration

Team officials were:

  • Chef de Mission – Michael Hartung
  • Assistant Chef de Mission – Nick Dean
  • Coaches - Steve Graham (Head Coach), Matthew Lyons (Senior Coach), Michael Gould (Assistant * Coach), Daniel Weiland (Nordic Coach)
  • Medical – Geoff Thompson (Team Doctor), Brett Robinson (Soft Tissue Therapist), Jason Patchell (Psychologist)
  • Media – Tim Mannion (Manager), Margie McDonald (Media Liaison Officer)
  • Support Staff – Caroline Walker (Games Coordinator) Alan Dean (Equipment Support), Michael Googan (Attache), Curtis Christian (Ski Technician)[10]

Sponsorship, fundraising and media

The sponsorship and fundraising program originally enabled the Australian Paralympic Committee to extend its ability to fund the Australian team. Estimated costs were believed to amount to approximately 1.25 million in 2010, $9 million in 2012 and $1.6 million in 2014) allowing for support and funding of sports programs and administration costs.[10] The games were broadcast to the Australian public through the ABC broadcast network through daily highlight coverage through the ABC1 channel across the ten days of competition.[10]

Medals and Medalists

While Australia did not achieve medal tallies as extensive as those achieved by strong winter sport countries, the small team achieved one silver (Marty Mayberry) and three bronze (Cameron Rahles-Rahbula x2, Jessica Gallagher) medals, doubling their medal tally from Torino in 2006.[11] Of these medalists Jessica Gallagher was the first Australian woman to win a Paralympic Winter medal. Unlike previous games, the medals did not resemble the traditional rounded shape but rather that of a square with rounded edges with a wave-like design running through the medals.[12] No two medals were designed the same making every individual medal unique to each athlete.[12] The design of each medal was inspired by First Nations imagery featuring the emblem of the Games along wt the IPC's logo. Written on each medal was 'Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in French and English as well as 'Vancouver 2010' in Braille.[12]

Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Germany 13 5 6 24
2 Russia 12 16 10 38
3 Canada 10 5 4 19
4 Slovakia 6 2 3 11
5 Ukraine 5 8 6 19
16 Australia 0 1 3 4
Medal Name Sport Event Date
 SilverMarty MayberryAlpine SkiingMen's Downhill – Standing18 March
 BronzeJessica Gallagher
Eric Bickerton (Guide)		Alpine SkiingWomen's Slalom – Visually Impaired14 March
 BronzeCameron Rahles-RahbulaAlpine SkiingMen's Slalom – Standing15 March
 BronzeCameron Rahles-RahbulaAlpine SkiingMen's Super Combined – Standing20 March

Mascot
Main article: Boxing kangaroo

When presented with their medals, each Australian medalist received a small version of the games mascot Sumi meaning guardian spirit. An animal spirit who was believed to live in the mountains of British Columbia. Sumi is the shape of a bear wearing the hat of the orca whale, flies with the wings of the thunderbird and runs on the furry legs of the black bear.[4]

The Australian team carried their own mascot throughout the games (boxing kangaroo). This mascot has a long history in Australian teams both able and disabled bodies. First used by the successful America's Cup winners,[13] the mascot represents the "Australian fighting spirit" provides self-confidence to many of the competing athletes.[13] Nicknamed "BK",[13] the boxing kangaroo represents and individual is "not lout, nor is he aggressive or arrogant. He is however, assertive when it comes to defending his country's glory[13]". This beloved mascot was commonly used by spectators to show their support for the Australian athletes at events in which Australian's competed. Flags of the mascot are also commonly hung by athletes out of their accommodation windows and over railings to demonstrate national and team pride. Use of the boxing kangaroo mascot at the 2010 winter Paralympics was shrouded in controversy due to earlier disagreement between the Australian Winter Olympic able bodied team and the International Olympic Committee when a two story high flag of the beloved mascot draped over a balcony in the athlete's village was declared to be "too commercial" by the IOC.[14] After, widespread criticism against the IOC in regards to their decision in requesting the flag be removed, after a meeting between the IOC and Australian Olympic Committee resulted in the decision that the flag could stay.[14]

The logo of the 2010 Winter Paralympics was described as "representing the spirit of the host region, the athletes journey and the harmony that exists between the athlete, their sport and environment".[4] The emblem of the Paralympic logo aimed to reflect "the athlete's mountainous inner strength and personal transformation as they pushed themselves to new heights in the pursuit of excellence".[4] Through the depicted aspects of the "valley, mountain and sun of the west coast'[4] a human form is created. The overall design is therefore aimed at being homage to the 'harmonious relationship by suggesting that the athlete and mountains are one".[4]

Events

Of the already offered events of Alpine, Ice Sledge Hockey, Biathlon, Cross Country and Wheelchair Curling, the Alpine Skiing Super Combined event was added to the Paralympic Programme.[4] Of the events offered Australia only competed in two: Alpine skiing and Cross-country.

Alpine skiing
Main article: Alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Paralympics
Women
Athlete Event Final
Run 1 Run 2 Total Time Rank
Jessica Gallagher
Eric Bickerton (Guide)		 Slalom visually impaired 57.57 56.83 2:04.35
Giant slalom visually impaired 1:41.24 1:43.40 3:24.64 7
Melissa Perrine
Andy Bor (Guide)		 Downhill visually impaired 1:33.30 5
Slalom visually impaired 1.09.56 1.12.92 2.22.47 8
Giant slalom visually impaired 1:37.57 DNF –
Super-G visually impaired 1:46.35 7
Super combined visually impaired DNF Did not advance –
Men
Athlete Event Final
Run 1 Run 2 Total Time Rank
Bart Bunting
Nathan Chivers (Guide)		 Downhill visually impaired DNF –
Giant slalom visually impaired 1:28.85 DNS –
Shannon Dallas Downhill sitting DNS –
Slalom sitting 56.86 1:00.79 1:57.65 17
Giant slalom sitting 1:23.10 1:26.42 2:49.52 6
Super-G sitting 1:25.21 11
Super combined sitting 1:25.21 DNF –
Mitchell Gourley Slalom standing 1:00.92 58.08 1:59.00 27
Giant slalom standing 1:15.76 1:17.27 2:33.03 12
Super-G standing 1:25.38 10
Toby Kane Downhill standing 1:25.26 10
Slalom standing 56.28 54.70 1:50.98 11
Giant slalom standing 1:15.50 1:15.53 2:31.03 10
Super-G standing DNF –
Super combined standing DNF Did not advance –
Marty Mayberry Downhill standing 1:22.78 T
Slalom standing DSQ Did not advance –
Giant slalom standing DNF Did not advance –
Super-G standing 1:30.50 24
Cameron Rahles-Rahbula Downhill standing 1:22.88 4
Slalom standing 53.08 54.61 1:47.69
Giant slalom standing 1:13.73 1:15.34 2:29.07 6
Super-G standing 1:22.65 5
Super combined standing 1:25.19 48.34 2:13.85
Nicholas Watts Slalom standing 1:10.80 DNF –
Giant slalom standing 1:35.29 1:48.48 3:23.77 35
Super-G standing 1:47.84 33

Cross-country skiing
Main article: Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Winter Paralympics
Athlete Event Factor % Qualification Semifinal Final
Real Time Result Rank Result Rank Real Time Result Rank
James Millar 1km sprint classic, standing 3:47.97 22 Did not qualify 22
10km classic, standing 33:12.7 22
20km free, standing 1:02:33.5 18
Dominic Monypenny 1km sprint classic, sitting 2:27.60 26 Did not qualify 26
10km classic, sitting 30:26.7 22
15km free, sitting 44:55.7 17

See also

References
  1. "Flagbearers from Opening Ceremony" (PDF). IPC. 12 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2010.
  2. "Rahles-Rahbula flag-bearer". Australian Paralympic Committee News, 21 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  3. Athletes: Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics, The Official Website of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
  4. Brittain, Ian (2014). From Stoke Mandeville to Sochi: A History of the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. Champaign: Common Ground Publishing. pp. 257–264 – via eBook Collection.
  5. Australian Paralympic Committee Media Guide PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2018.
  6. "Paralympics categories explained". ABC. 3 September 2008. Archived from the original on 12 September 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  7. "Making sense of the categories". BBC Sport. 6 October 2000. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  8. "Sport Profiles, Alpine Skiing". Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  9. "Sport Profiles; Cross Country Skiing". Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  10. Australian Paralympic Committee Media Guide Vancouver 12-21 March 2010 (PDF). Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2010.
  11. "Racing History". Disabled Winter Sports. Disabled Wintersport Australia. 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  12. "Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Medals- Official Photos & History". Official Website of the Paralympic Movement. International Paralympic Committee. 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  13. "Team Mascot- the Boxing Kangaroo". Australian Olympic Winter Team. Australian Olympic Committee. 2010. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  14. "Decision on boxing kangaroo 'ridiculous'". NewsComAu. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
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