Prime Minister Stephen Harper today congratulated Lauren Woolstencroft, whose outstanding performance in alpine skiing, women’s super combined standing, was rewarded with her fifth gold medal at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. With this gold medal, Ms. Woolstencroft ties the record for most gold medals by a Canadian Paralympian at a single Paralympic Games, and adds to Canada’s record number of gold medals at these Games.
“What an incredible gold medal-winning performance today by Lauren Woolstencroft,” said the Prime Minister. “I join proud Canadians from across the country in again congratulating one of our greatest Paralympic champions ever.”
Ms. Woolstencroft was born in Calgary and now resides in North Vancouver. She started ski racing at age 14 and has been a member of the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team since 1998. Ms. Woolstencroft has won over 50 medals, including eight world championship titles and is the 2006 International Paralympic Committee Athlete of the Year. These are her third Paralympic Winter Games.
The first Alpine skiing events were held in 1976 at the first Paralympic Winter Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The sport is open to men and women with a physical disability or visual impairment. Alpine ski events include downhill, slalom, giant slalom and super giant slalom (super-G). For more information on this sport, visit the website of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
The 2010 Paralympic Winter Games are being held from March 12 to 21. More than 1,000 athletes and team officials from more than 40 countries are competing in a five-sport, 64-event competition schedule at venues in Vancouver and Whistler. Canada is represented by more than 50 athletes at the competition.
