ALPINE:

Williamson, Woolstencroft lead 16 alpine Paralympians

March 9, 2010 — Alpine Canada     

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Christopher Williamson and Lauren Woolstencroft, both multiple Paralympic Winter Games medallists, lead a group of 16 ski racers intently focused on contributing to Canada's medal totals during the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, Alpine Canada announced Tuesday.

Williamson, a three-time medallist including gold in slalom in 2002, will be guided by Nick Brush at the 2010 Paralympic Games at Whistler, BC. Williamson and Brush have been together for most of the past three seasons but will be competing together at the Paralympics for the first time.

"It is great to be nominated on the Canadian Paralympic team for the third time. Hopefully I'll have a lot more success this time then the last two, because I was injured. But I will be taking the next two weeks and a half with a very positive state of mind," said Williamson, who suffered freak injuries while training prior to the Paralympic Games in both 2002 and 2006.

"My objectives for these Games are to medal in all five events that I will participate in. I have way too much respect to my competitors to say that I could win gold in every event, but when I am in the start gate, I think that is always the main goal,” said Williamson, who won the overall crystal globe in the men's visually impaired category this season after winning eight IPC World Cup events.

Woolstencroft has an impressive five career Paralympic medals, including three gold. Her last gold medal came in giant slalom at the 2006 Games in Torino.

Kimberly Joines, a 2006 bronze medallist in super-G, was also named to the Canadian team, along with Jeff Dickson, a three-time Paralympic medallist dating back to 1992.

Karolina Wisniewska came out of retirement in 2007 to compete in the 2010 Paralympic Games. Wisniewska, who has six career Paralympic medals, became the first Canadian alpine skiing athlete in either Paralympic or Olympic Winter Games competition to win four medals when she accomplished the feat at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.

"I'm really excited. I worked really hard to get here. These will be my third Paralympic Games. I didn't race in Torino but I decided to come back for 2010. So I'm really excited that I made it this far and things are going pretty well. I feel like I am exactly where I have to be right now," said Wisniewska. "Having the Games on home soil will definitely make it different, but I think it will be a good different and I am ready to embrace it as much as possible."

There are a total of seven skiers with Paralympic Winter Games experience. Of the nine racers who will be at their first Paralympic Winter Games, Viviane Forest along with her guide, Lindsay Debou, is an overall IPC World Cup champion in 2009 and 2010. The list of first-time Paralympians also includes 2009 IPC World downhill champion Josh Dueck, while 17-year-old Kirk Shornstein, a member of the national development team, is the youngest team member.

"Canada's para-alpine ski racers are at the end of the most successful Paralympic cycle in their history and were atop the Nations Cup standings for the first time ever last season," said CPAST, High-Performance Director Jean-François Rapatel. "Our goal all along has been to create a para-alpine program that is capable of sustaining success in the long-term, and the 2010 Paralympics have always been considered as a major opportunity to measure our progress. We have a well-prepared team, a talented group of Canadian and international coaches and staff, as well as athletes who have a track record of success in World Cup and World Championship competition."

Canada has achieved 36 medals at the Paralympic Winter Games in the alpine events. Of those 36 medals, current team members account for a total of 18.

It is expected that Canada will have representation in each alpine event during the Paralympic Winter Games in 2010.

The downhill training runs start Wednesday and the first race will be on Saturday with the downhill event.  SRC

2010 Canadian Paralympic alpine team

Men
Christopher Williamson, Markham, Ont., B 3

Josh Dueck, Vernon, B.C., LW 11

Matthew Hallat, Whistler, B.C., LW 2
Morgan Perrin, Whistler, B.C., LW 3/2

Nicholas Brush, Panorama, B.C., Guide
Jeff Dickson, Sudbury, Ont., LW 9-2

Kirk Shornstein, Edmonton, Alta., LW 6/8-2

Sam Danniels, Whistler, B.C., LW 10/1

Women
Andrea Dziewior, Nanaimo, B.C., LW 2

Arly Fogarty, Montreal, Que., LW 5/7-2
Karolina Wisniewska, Vancouver, B.C., LW 3/2

Kimberly Joines Rossland, B.C., LW 11

Lauren Woolstencroft, North Vancouver, B.C., LW 3/1
Lindsay Debou, Whistler, B.C., Ont., LW 2

Melanie Schwartz, Toronto, Ont., LW 2
Viviane Forest, Edmonton, Alta., B 2