Her name is Lauren Woolstencroft, a name by now, floating all over television news casts, newspaper headlines, and online issues around the world, after her accomplishments at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics.
The alpine skier from Calgary, Alberta, has made a tremendous impact at Whistler this year, by grabbing four gold medals, so far, and possibly her fifth after today’s competition. Born November 28, 1981, the twenty eight year old is also a graduate of the University of Victoria, BC and works as an Electrical Engineer, according to her profile information on the Vancouver 2010 website.
In their Vancouver 2010 section, The Star.com explains that Woolstencroft had been:
“…Planning to retire after winning a gold and silver four years ago in Turin, Italy, the 29-year-old skier decided to stick around in large measure because the Own the Podium program for 2010 Olympians was offered to athletes with disabilities, meaning they could access the best coaches, equipment and sports medicine…”
Source: The Star
And thankfully she didn’t retire because:
“…The win not only gave Woolstencroft the ninth medal of her Paralympic career, including seven golds, but moved her into the record books. Her four golds in one Winter Games…[are]… the most by a Canadian. If she captures her fifth straight on Saturday, she'll tie for the most by a Canadian in one Paralympics with summer athletes Chantal Petticlerc, a wheelchair racer who did that in both Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, and swimmer Stephanie Dixon, in Sydney in 2000... Alpine skier Lana Spreeman has the most Winter Paralympics medals by a Canadian with 13 from 1980 through 1994…”
Source: The Star
To top off the grand accomplishments of this young woman, Woolstencroft was also one of the “…electrical engineer who helped design and install the wiring system at the Whistler ski venues used for the Olympics and Paralympics…”
Way to go, Lauren! Congratulations, on your tremendous accomplishments.
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