Skill And Courage Typify Australia’s Beijing 2022 Paralympic Campaign

Courtesy paralympics.org.au

Australia’s campaign at Beijing 2022 has finished with two champions calling it a day, some exciting future stars scoring brilliant results and a treasured bronze medal that felt like gold.

Australian Paralympic Winter Team co-captain Ben Tudhope, the world’s No.1-ranked snowboarder in his classification in the season leading up to the Games, claimed a stirring medal when he edged out China’s Sun Qi in the Big Final at Genting Snow Park at Zhangjiakou on day three.

“I worked my way up and it was a really slow process,” said Tudhope, who was competing at his third Games.

“It’s been a full eight years, eight years of grind and determination.”

Tudhope’s medal was a memorable highlight at the end of a Paralympics cycle dominated by enormous challenges associated with the Covid pandemic. There were no other medals to celebrate but there were several skilful and courageous performances at Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre, where Australia’s eight other team members competed in Para-alpine skiing.

Among the highlights was a brilliant sixth placing by Melissa Perrine and sighted guide Bobbi Kelly in the Women’s Giant Slalom Vision Impaired. The dual bronze medallist from the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympics and four-time World Champion was competing at the last of her four Paralympic Games and heads into skiing retirement as one of the greats of Australian Winter Paralympic sport.

Similarly, Perrine’s great friend and skiing colleague over more than a decade, Mitchell Gourley, competed at the last of his four Paralympics, managing a best placing of 10th in the Giant Slalom, among a full program of events.

“To stay at the top of your sport for such a long period of time requires incredible discipline and passion,” Australian Team Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin said.

“Mel and Mitch picked up where their predecessors left off and have been an awesome double act for Australia, season after season and at every Paralympic Games since Vancouver 2010. Their legacy lives on in their teammates, who have shown in Beijing that the future is bright.”

Among those teammates, vision impaired skier Patrick Jensen and guide Amelia Hodgson enjoyed success in the Men’s Super-G (6th), Slalom (6th) and Downhill (8th), while Games debutants Rae Anderson and Josh Hanlon each showed they had the attributes to become medallists at the 2026 Paralympics in Cortina, Italy.

Anderson became the seventh Australian to compete at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics after competing at the Rio Games in Para-athletics. In a stunning Winter Games debut - without having competed at a World Cup event - Anderson came seventh in the Women’s Slalom Standing and 10th in the Giant Slalom.

Hanlon, a former budding Australian rules footballer, captured attention with his 11th placing in his first race, the Men’s Giant Slalom Sitting, before finishing off with an outstanding sixth in the Slalom.

Australia’s other competitor, second-time Paralympian Sam Tait, didn’t have the success he’d hoped for but vowed to come back stronger at Cortina 2026.

“This small but mighty Australian team has so much to be proud of,” McLoughlin said.

“The circumstances could hardly have been more difficult, with Covid having robbed them of 18 months of training and competition in the lead-up to the Games. Yet, in partnership with Snow Australia and the AIS, we were able to deliver nine results that were in the top 10 in the world, as well as an extremely joyous bronze medal in snowboarding.

“I want to congratulate all team members and coaching staff for giving it everything they had at Beijing 2022.”

Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Catherine Clark thanked the Games’ Organising Committee BOCOG and the Chinese people for being gracious hosts.

“All members of the Australian Paralympic Team felt comfortable and welcome in China and we are deeply grateful to everyone here who helped create a wonderful environment for our athletes to compete in,” Clark said.

“Under very challenging conditions, China has managed to host a highly successful Winter Games. Thank you for creating such a wonderful and memorable Paralympic experience.”