Prime Minister Stephen Harper congratulates Lauren Woolstencroft on winning gold at 2010 Paralympic Winter Games

March 15, 2010

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today congratulated Lauren Woolstencroft, whose outstanding performance in the women’s slalom standing alpine skiing event was rewarded with a gold medal at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

“Congratulations to Canada’s Lauren Woolstencroft on winning a gold medal today,” said the Prime Minister. “She has shown exceptional perseverance and determination.  Her stellar performance is truly inspirational.”

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, five previous Paralympic medals — including three gold — and is the 2006 International Paralympic Committee Athlete of the Year.  These are her third Paralympic Winter Games and her sixth Paralympic medal.

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.