Lauren Woolstencroft
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Lauren Woolstencroft (born November 24, 1981 in Calgary, Alberta)[1] is a Canadian alpine skier and electrical engineer. Born missing her left arm below the elbow as well as both legs below the knees, she began skiing at the age of 4 and began competitive skiing at the age of 14.[2] She is a multiple medal winner at the Paralympics. In 1998, she was nicknamed "Pudding" by her teammates, due to her sweet tooth.[1]
She graduated with an electrical engineering degree from the University of Victoria. She now resides in North Vancouver.[3]
Sporting career
She represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Paralympics in Salt Lake City, winning two gold medals and a bronze.
She represented her country again at the 2006 Games in Turin, winning gold in the Giant Slalom and silver in the Super G.
She had contemplated retiring after the 2006 Games, but decided to stick around through the 2010 Games in Canada.[4]
In 2007, during the International Paralympic Committee's General Assembly in Seoul, Woolstencroft was named the Paralympic Sport Awards 2007 Best Female Athlete.[2] She was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame in 2007.[5]
In the 2010 Winter Paralympics she won 5 gold medals for Giant Slalom, Slalom, Super-G, Downhill Skiing, and Super Combined. She became the first Canadian to win 3 golds at the same Winter Paralympics,[3] this total was later increased to 5 golds. With her 4th gold medal, she helped Canada set a record for most gold medals at any Winter Paralympic Games by winning the 7th medal. The previous mark was six, set at the 2002 Salt Lake City Paralympics.[6] With her 5th gold medal, she set the record for most gold medals won by any Winter Paralympian at a single Games, and she tied the record for gold medal haul of any Canadian Paralympian at a single Games, tying Chantal Petitclerc (who did the feat twice) and Stephanie Dixon, both Summer Paralympians.[4] Her five gold are also the record for any Canadian Winter Paralympian or Olympian.[7]
Woolstencroft won the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award in 2002.
References
- 1 2 The Province, "Woolstencroft's electric performance", Damian Inwood, 21 March 2010, (accessed 21 March 2010)
- 1 2 "Canadian Paralympic Skier Lauren Woolstencroft Honored", First Tracks magazine, October 19, 2007
- 1 2 The Province, "Nation thrills at triple gold win", Ian Austin, 19 March 2010 (accessed 19 March 2010)
- 1 2 Vancouver Sun, "Woolstencroft wins fifth gold medal", CanWest News Service, 21 March 2010 (accessed 21 March 2010)
- ↑ The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons, Hall of Fame Inductees (accessed March 2010)
- ↑ Canadian Paralympic Committee, "Woolstencroft lifts Canada to record winter paralympic performance", CPC, 19 March 2010 (accessed 19 March 2010)
- ↑ CTV News Channel, "News Weekend", 10:15am broadcast, airdate 21 March 2010