ALPINE:

Paralympic slalom champ Bill Harriott dies

March 25, 2011 — Alpine Canada  

Former Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team member William Charles Harriott died on March 21 in Calgary, Alta., of a sudden heart attack.

Harriott, born on July 4, 1958, in Windsor, Ont., raced on the team from 1986 to 2003 as an arm amputee and then as Christopher Williamson's guide.

Harriott is a seven-time Paralympian, winning the gold medal in slalom at the Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City as Williamson's guide.

Harriott was on the team for more than 15 years and skied alongside current athletes such as Markham, Ont.-based Williamson and Karolina Wisniewska of Ottawa, Ont.

"As an arm amputee, Bill said he would not retire until another Canadian arm amputee could beat him," said Wisniewska. "No one ever could and so he was fond of pointing out that he has been on the team longer than Lauren [Woolstencroft] has been alive.

"Finally, Ian Balfour beat him, but it was a long time in the making. There is no doubt that he is one of the legends of para-alpine skiing in Canada."

He left behind his loving wife, Renee, and children Devon and Melissa, sister Deb and brother John.

Visitation at Leydens Funeral Home (corner of 17 Avenue and 2 Street S.W., Calgary, Alta.,) will take place Sunday, March 27, from 2-4 p.m. with a funeral service to be held on Monday, March 28, at 11 a.m.