Lillehammer 1994

Introduction

General Overview; 1994 Lilehammer Paralympic Winter Games

The motto of the Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Games was the statement "No Limits." Under this banner, a total of 471 athletes (381 men and 90 women) representing 31 countries proved that nothing could stop them from taking on the 1,050m high Hafjell, one of the toughest courses to be used at Paralympic Games.

From March 10 to 19, the athletes competed in five sports: Alpine skiing, ice sledge racing, Nordic skiing (biathlon and cross-country skiing) and ice sledge hockey, which had been introduced to the Paralympic Winter Sports Programme for the first time.

At the Opening Ceremony on March 10, the delegations were welcomed to Norway officially by Her Majesty (HM) Queen Sonja of Norway and the Games were opened as the Paralympic flame was lit by Helge Bjørnstad and the athlete’s oath taken by Cato Zahl Pedersen.

One of the star athletes of the Games was Cross-Country skier Ragnhild Myklebust of Norway. Following outstanding performances at the Innsbruck 1988 Paralympic Winter Games (five gold and two silver medals) and in Tignes-Albertville in 1992 (two gold medals), Myklebust put on a show for her home crowd, winning five gold, two silver and two bronze medals in the biathlon, cross-country skiing and ice sledge racing.

The Norwegians also emerged as overall winners on the medal tally with 64 medals, in a close race with Germany who also won 64 medals but four less gold medals. The USA came in third with 43 medals, including 24 gold. 

The Games were represented by an emblem depicting the sun people. This image portrayed the ideas of power, vitality, strength and energy, all of which are characteristics of the athletes who took part. These characteristics were also to be found in the mascot Sondre, the troll. Sondre, who was also an amputee, was designed by Tor Lindrupsen and selected following a competition of several artists. The name for the mascot was chosen in a separate competition and derives from the great skiing pioneer Sondre Nordheim.

Source: IPC Website

Team Canada

The VIth Winter Paralympic Games have gone down in history as the coming of age for the Winter Paralympics. This was the first time that the Paralympic Games were held at the same venues, utilized the same village, and that the HOC worked so closely with their Olympic counterpart.

It was also the first time that the Canadian team participated in sledge hockey, ice sledge racing, biathlon, and demonstration cross-country events for athletes with a mental handicap. It was also the largest Canadian team ever at a Winter Paralympics with 41 athletes (including 4 guides) and 19 staff including coaches, medical staff, and administration. Approximately 600 athletes competed at this edition of the Games, with Canada finishing 14^th amongst 31 competing nations. Canadians received a total of 9 medals including 1 gold, 2 silver, and 6 bronze.

In addition to the 7 medals won by alpine skiers Ramona Hoh (1 bronze), Stacy Kohut (1 gold), and Lana Spreeman (1 silver, 3 bronze); and the bronze medal won by Terrykinn Johnson in the cross-country demonstration event, the sledge hockey team won a bronze medal, bringing the team total to 9 medals.

The Chef de Mission was John Boucher.
The Opening Flagbearer was  Lou Mulvihill.
The Closing Flagbearer was Lana Spreeman.

Results

Team Summary