Aussie Paralympic athlete preview for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games.
AUSTRALIA’S continued success in Paralympic Winter Games should continue in 2026, the squad attending the games will arrive with a mix of experience, expectation, and great potential.
Leading the charge will be snowboarder Ben Tudhope, who will compete at his fourth Paralympic Games. Ben became the youngest ever Winter Paralympian when he competed at the Sochi 2014 games at the age of 14.
The highlight of Ben’s Winter Paralympics was a sensational bronze medal in the Men’s Para-Snowboard Cross SB-LL2 category at the Beijing 2022 Games, where he was co-captain of the team.
Ben was born with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, affecting coordination and muscle movement on the left side of his body. On his website, he states, ‘I’m not disabled, simply a kid with a disability.’
In 2023, Ben won the snowboard cross World Championships, has been a three-time Snow Australia Athlete, and won the World Cup Crystal Globe six times.
In the past northern hemisphere season, he podiumed in seven Para Snow World Cup events and placed third at the Para Snowboard World Championships in Big White.
Sit skier Josh Hanlon is another contender for a Paralympic medal. Since joining the team in 2019, he has gained experience and competed in the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in LW12-2 sitting class.
The past season, Josh achieved his best-ever results, placing third twice in Para Alpine World Cup Slalom races in Germany. Now ranked sixth overall on World Cup standings, he will return from an injury after missing the last five races of the season.
Sean Pollard competes in Para SBX and banked slalom and competed in the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, placing fifth in the banked slalom. Returning from injury to compete in the 24/25 season, Sean placed tenth at the Para Snowboard World Championships in Big White.
Amanda Reid started her athletic career as a Para swimmer before switching to Para cycling and now balances both Para cycling and Para snowboarding. Amanda competed in the 2012 Summer Paralympics as a swimmer and 2016, 2020, and 2024 Summer Paralympic Games as a cyclist.
Competing in Para SBX and banked slalom in SB-LL1, Amanda has placed first in Para SBX and third in Dual banked SL at the 2023 FIS Para Snowboard World Championships in La Molina, and won the Continental Cup in Landgraaf last season.
Aaron McCarthy first tried snowboarding in 2022, and the 24/25 season was his first competing overseas in Para SBX and banked slalom in SB-LL1. He captured three podiums in the Continental Cup, including a win, and placed second overall for the Europa Cup season.
Georgia Gunew, with guide Ethan Jackson, competes as an alpine visually impaired skier. Georgia works as a veterinary assistant and studies at the University of Queensland, and before she lost her vision, was a keen horse rider and field hockey player.
The 24/25 season was Georgia’s second season following the Alpine Para World Cup circuit, with her best results being two bronze medals in World Cup races, one in Slalom and the other in GS.
Sam Tait’s family owns the Corroboree Lodge in Perisher, where Sam spends plenty of time on the slopes fine-tuning his sit skiing technique. Sam started sit skiing in 2014 and became a member of the Australian Para-alpine skiing development squad.
Competing at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, he finished 11th in the men's downhill and 17th in the men's giant slalom. At the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, he finished 22nd in the men's giant slalom.
Sam became the first paraplegic person to climb Mount Kosciuszko, an adventure captured in the inspiring documentary “All The Way Up.” This season, he will open a new business in Jindabyne called Revive. “We’re excited to offer services like float tanks, infrared saunas, hot/cold therapy, and more to help you rejuvenate and thrive,” said Sam.
Australia has also earned two quota spots for Para Nordic in Para Cross-Country and Para Biathlon. The athlete group is small, and they are only commencing their competitive journey, having been in the Para snow-based system for the past few years.
Sit skiers David Miln and Matthew Brumby, and visually impaired skier Taryn Dickens, will be vying for the available positions.
