Thomas Walsh competes at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympic Games
About Para Alpine Skiing
Para alpine skiing was developed following the end of World War II, when injured ex-servicemen returned to the sport they loved. In 1948, the first Para alpine skiing courses were offered.
Alpine skiing was one of the original sports at the first Winter Paralympic Games held in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden in 1976 with slalom and giant slalom events. Downhill racing started as a demonstration event at the 1980 Paralympic Games in Geilo, Norway and was added to the Winter Paralympic Games program in 1984. Mono-skiing was introduced in the alpine and Nordic events in 1988 at the Games in Innsbruck, Austria. The alpine disciplines include the same events contested in Olympic competition: downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and super combined. There are also team events not yet on the Paralympic Games program.
Paralympic alpine skiing competition is open to male and female athletes with a physical impairment such as spinal injury, cerebral palsy, amputation, Les Autres conditions, and blindness/vision impairment. Athletes compete in three categories based on their functional ability, and a results calculation system allows athletes with different impairments to compete against each other. Skiers with blindness/vision impairment are guided through the course by sighted guides using signals to indicate the course to follow. Some athletes use equipment that is adapted to their needs including single ski, sit-ski, or orthopedic aids.
World Para Alpine Skiing acts as the International Federation for the sport which is coordinated by the World Para Alpine Skiing Technical Committee.
Paralympic Winter Games Host Cities
1976 - Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
1980 - Geilo, Norway
1984 - Innsbruck, Austria
1988 - Innsbruck, Austria
1992 - Tignes - Albertville, France
1994 - Lillehammer, Norway
1998 - Nagano, Japan
2002 - Salt Lake City, United States
2006 - Turin, Italy
2010 - Vancouver, Canada
2014 - Sochi, Russia
2018 - PyeongChang, South Korea
2022 - Beijing, China
2026 - Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
Team USA Total Medals by Paralympic Winter Games
Year - Host City - Total Medals - Gold, Silver, Bronze
2018 - PyeongChang, South Korea - 36 - 13 gold, 15 silver, 8 bronze
2014 - Sochi, Russia - 18 - 2 gold, 7 silver, 9 bronze
2010 - Vancouver, Canada - 13 - 4 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze
2006 - Turin, Italy - 12 - 7 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze
2002 - Salt Lake City, United States - 43 - 10 gold, 22 silver, 11 bronze
1998 - Nagano, Japan - 34 - 13 gold, 8 silver, 13 bronze
1994 - Lillehammer, Norway - 43 - 24 gold, 12 silver, 7 bronze
1992 - Tignes-Albertville, France - 45 - 20 gold, 16 silver, 9 bronze
1988 - Innsbruck, Austria - 30 - 7 gold, 17 silver, 6 bronze
1984 - Innsbruck, Austria - 35 - 7 gold, 14 silver, 14 bronze
1980 - Geilo, Norway - 6 - 4 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
1976 - Örnsköldsvik, Sweden - 0
Team USA Total Alpine Skiing Medals by Games
Year - Host City - Total Medals - Gold, Silver, Bronze
2018 - PyeongChang, South Korea - 6 - 1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze
2014 - Sochi, Russia - 10 - 4 silver, 6 bronze
2010 - Vancouver, Canada - 11 - 3 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze
2006 - Turin, Italy - 8 - 5 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
2002 - Salt Lake City, United States - 27 - 9 gold, 17 silver, 11 bronze
1998 - Nagano, Japan - 32 - 13 gold, 8 silver, 11 bronze
1994 - Lillehammer, Norway - 39 - 24 gold, 9 silver, 6 bronze
1992 - Tignes-Albertville, France - 42 - 18 gold, 16 silver, 8 bronze
1988 - Innsbruck, Austria - 28 - 6 gold, 17 silver, 5 bronze
1984 - Innsbruck, Austria - 34 - 7 gold, 13 silver, 14 bronze
1980 - Geilo, Norway - 6 - 4 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
1976 - Örnsköldsvik, Sweden - 0