PARALYMPICS: WOOLSTENCROFT WINS RECORD FIVE GOLD AT PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Forest and Debou win five medals for Canada, including silver in super combined.
 
WHISTLER, BC (March 20, 2010) – Lauren Woolstencroft (North Vancouver) made history winning a fifth consecutive gold medal at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, the highlight to an impressive final day of competition for Canada’s Para-Alpine Ski Team in Whistler, BC.
 
It’s a historic result for the Canadian Paralympic ski team as well, winning an incredible 13 of the host nations 18 medals thus far at the 2010 Paralympic Games. The ski team has beaten the record of 12 medals, achieved at the Nagano Games in 1998 and the Salt Lake City Games in 2002 on this the final day of alpine competition in Whistler.
 
Woolstencroft is the most decorated female athlete from any country at a single Winter Paralympic Games by winning five gold medals. She crossed the finish line in today’s super combined, which combined one super-G run with a slalom, with a combined time of two minutes 22.67 seconds to win by more then 12 seconds.
 
“I am a competitor, I always want to race my best and it was a bit of a tricky course so I had to be super focused. At the same time I knew I had to get down so I needed to ski a smart run. Obviously I’m super happy and surprised with the outcome,” said the 28-year-old Woolstencroft, who was born missing her left arm below the elbow as well as both legs below the knees.
 
“I never though I would actually win the five medals. The biggest challenge here was to ski your best day after day. I am mentally fried right now, today my only focus was the race and I am pretty mentally tired. I had great confidence coming in and I was super prepared. I knew I had the potential but you can never know what is going to happen,” added Woolstencroft. “I don’t know if all of this has set in yet, I am just kind of surprised still.”
 
In the 34-year history of the Winter Paralympics, there have been seven women to win four gold in a single Games, the last being Ragnhild Myklebust from Norway in cross country and USA’s Sarah Hill in alpine during the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.
 
Woolstencroft also ties swimmer Stephanie Dixon and athletics star Chantal Petitclerc as the only three Canadian women to earn five gold medals in a single Paralympics, winter or summer.
 
Woolstencroft had Canadian company on the podium in the ladies standing category today as Karolina Wisniewska (Vancouver, BC) finished in third place, winning her third bronze medal of the Games.
 
Viviane Forest (Edmonton, AB), along with her guide Lindsay Debou (Whistler, BC), were seeking five medals including one gold at the 2010 Paralympic Games. The girls can say that the mission was accomplished, earning a medal in every event they participated in and winning gold in the downhill.
 
Forest and Debou grabbed their third silver medal of the Games in today’s super combined. Slovakia’s Henrieta Farkasova won her second consecutive Paralympic race.
 
“I am so pleased right now, I accomplished my goal and my dream came true. I knew I could do it but I have to say when I injured myself, I started doubting it a little bit. But I managed to stay strong and Lindsay and I did it. I have to thank all the coaches and staff because without them I would not be where I am right now,” said Forest.
 
Christopher Williamson (Markham, ON) and his guide Nick Brush (Panorama, BC) finished just outside the medals, in fourth in the men’s visually impaired category.
 
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INFORMATION:
Sophie Pilon
Media Attaché, Para-Alpine
Canadian Paralympic Committee
C: 403-815-7340