James Paterson (skier)

James Paterson

Australian medallist James Paterson at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Games
Personal information
Full name	James Lawrence Paterson
Nationality	Australian
Born	2 January 1970 West Wyalong NSW
Medal record Alpine skiing Winter Paralympic Games 1998 Nagano Men's Downhill LW1,3,5/7,9 1994 Lillehammer Men's Downhill LW9 1994 Lillehammer Men's Giant Slalom LW9 1998 Nagano Men's Slalom LW9 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships 1996 Lech am Arlberg Men's Super G LW9 2000 Anzere Men's Giant Slalom LW1,3,7,7,9 1996 Lech am Arlberg Men's Slalom LW9 1996 Lech am Arlberg Men's Downhill LW9

Australian Paralympic athlete James Paterson competing at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Games

James Lawrence Paterson, OAM[1] is an Australian Paralympic skier who has cerebral palsy.[2]

Personal life

Paterson was from Terrigal, New South Wales and a marine mechanic for Halvorsen Boats.[3] After the 1994 Games, Paterson thanked the Terrigal community and his employer for supporting his overseas preparation.[3]

Skiing career

At the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Paralympics, Paterson competed in four events and won a silver medal in the Men's Downhill LW9 event and a bronze medal in the Men's Giant Slalom LW9 event.[4] In 1996, at the IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, he won a silver medal and two bronze medals.[5] At the 1998 Winter Paralympics, he was team captain and competed in four events. He won a gold medal in the Men's Downhill LW1,3,5/7,9 event and a bronze medal in the Men's Slalom LW9 event[6] Between 1997 and 1999, he was an Australian Institute of Sport Athlete with a Disability scholarship holder.[7] His last major international competition was the 2000 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, where he won a silver medal in the Men's Giant Slalom LW1,3,7,7,9. He announced his retirement in June 2001 citing his lost passion and the cost of competing on his family and finances.[8]

Recognition

In 2000, Paterson received an Australian Sports Medal.[9] In 2008, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition for being a medallist at Paralympics and Disabled World Ski Championships.[1] He has been inducted into the Central Coast Sporting Hall of Fame.[10]

Paterson is married to Martina, and has two children, Emily and Cameron.[11]

References

1. "James Lawrence Paterson". It's An Honour Website. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
2. Media Guide Vancouver 2010 (PDF). Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2010. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2012.
3. "More talent unearthed by Paralympic Games". Top T Bottom. 1 (13): 1. 1994.
4. "IPC Historical Results Database". International Paralympic Committee Website. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
5. Australian Paralympic Federation 1997, p. 8
6. Australian Paralympic Committee 1999, p. 32
7. Excellence : the Australian Institute of Sport. Canberra: Australian Sports Commission. 2002. ISBN 174013060X.
8. "No more peaks for Paralympian". Daily Telegraph. 27 June 2001.
9. "Patterson, James Lawrence: Australian Sports Medal". It's an Honour. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
10. "Central Coast Sporting Hall of Fame". Blue Tongue Stadium Website. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
11. Keene, Neil (9 June 2008). "An upside to downside". Daily Telegraph.

Bibliography

• Australian Paralympic Federation (1997). "1996 – Highlights of the Year in Review". Australian Paralympic Federation Annual Report. Australia: Australian Paralympic Federation.
• Australian Paralympic Committee (1999). "Fencing". Australian Paralympic Committee Annual Report (1998 ed.). Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee.