Australia’s 10-person team for the Beijing Winter Paralympics has been named with para-snowboarding young gun Ben Tudhope shaping as a medal hope.
Para-snowboarding young gun Ben Tudhope headlines Australia’s 10-person team at Beijing 2022 as he chases a breakthrough Winter Paralympics medal.
Tudhope, who debuted as a 14-year-old at Sochi in 2014 and is attending his third Games, is the only snowboarder selected.
The remaining seven athletes and two sighted guides will be competing in para-alpine skiing.
Tudhope, 22, won two gold medals at the weekend’s World Cup events in Sweden and finished on the podium at every SBX Para World Cup event this season.
“I remember the excitement as a 14-year-old getting selected on a wildcard for the Sochi 2014 Games,” Tudhope said.
“It’s just as exciting to represent Australia at these Games and it’s an achievement to again be the youngest on the team. Who knows, third time lucky?”
PyeongChang 2018 dual bronze medallist Melissa Perrine and Mitchell Gourley are the most experienced members, named for their fourth respective campaigns.
Former GWS academy prospect and now-sit skier Josh Hanlon and Rio 2016 Paralympian Rae Anderson will make their Winter Paralympics debuts next month, along with sighted guides Amelia Hodgson and Bobbi Kelly.
Hanlon lost his right hand at the wrist and required a double below-knee amputation in 2018 after suffering a severe bacterial infection, which included toxic shock and sepsis.
Anderson, who finished fifth in the F37 javelin throw and eighth in the F37-38 discus throw in Rio, is just the seventh Australian to compete at both a Summer and Winter Paralympics.
Sam Tait, Jonty O’Callaghan and Patrick Jensen will each compete at their second Paralympics.
Kate McLoughlin is the first woman to be appointed Chef de Mission of an Australian Paralympic Winter team.
It has been a difficult build-up for Australia’s athletes due to limitations on training and competing amid the coronavirus pandemic and McLoughlin, Chef de Mission at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympics, hailed their resilience.
“We have a great mix of experience and athletes on the rise who now have the chance to show the world what they’re capable of and set a great example to all Australians,” she said.
“We have an amazing tradition of punching above our weight at the Winter Paralympics, stretching right back to the first Games in Sweden in 1976, winning 34 medals, including 12 gold.
“It’s been a difficult lead-in to these Games, but I’m in awe of the tenacity our athletes have shown and I’ve got no doubt they’ll make Australia proud when they compete in Beijing next month.”
In PyeongChang, Australia won one gold and three bronze medals, finishing 14th on the medal tally.
AUSTRALIA’S WINTER PARALYMPICS TEAM
Rae Anderson (Winter Paralympics debut)
Mitchell Gourley (2010, 2014, 2018)
Patrick Jensen (2018)
Josh Hanlon (debut)
Jonty O’Callaghan (2018)
Melissa Perrine (2010, 2014, 2018)
Sam Tait (2018)
Ben Tudhope (2014, 2018)
Amelia Hodgson (Sighted guide – debut)
Bobbi Kelly (sighted guide – debut)
