Lauren Woolstencroft
Encyclopedia
Lauren Woolstencroft (born November 24, 1981 in Calgary
, Alberta
) is a Canadian
alpine skier
. She is an electrical engineer working with BC Hydro. She graduated with an electrical engineering
degree from the University of Victoria
. She now resides in North Vancouver
. In 1998, she was nicknamed "Pudding" by her teammates, due to her sweet tooth.
Born missing her left arm below the elbow as well as both legs below the knees, she began skiing at the age of 4 and began competitive skiing at the age of 14.
in Salt Lake City, winning two gold medals and a bronze.
She represented her country
again at the 2006 Games
in Turin
, winning gold in the Giant Slalom and silver in the Super G.
She had contemplated retiring after the 2006 Games, but decided to stick around through the 2010 Games in Canada.
In 2007, during the International Paralympic Committee
's General Assembly in Seoul
, Woolstencroft was named the Paralympic Sport Awards 2007 Best Female Athlete. She was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame
in 2007.
In the 2010 Winter Paralympics
she won 5 gold medals for
Giant Slalom, Slalom, Super-G, Downhill Skiing, and Super Combined. She became the first Canadian
to win 3 golds at the same Winter Paralympics
, this total was later increased to 5 golds. With her 4th gold medal, she helped Canada set a record for most gold medals at any Winter Paralympic Games by winning the 7th medal. The previous mark was six, set at the 2002 Salt Lake City Paralympics. With her 5th gold medal, she set the record for most gold medals won by any Winter Paralympian at a single Games, and she tied the record for gold medal haul of any Canadian Paralympian at a single Games, tying Chantal Petitclerc
(who did the feat twice) and Stephanie Dixon
, both Summer Paralympians. Her five gold are also the record for any Canadian Winter Paralympian or Olympian.
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
alpine skier
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
. She is an electrical engineer working with BC Hydro. She graduated with an electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
degree from the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
. She now resides in North Vancouver
North Vancouver, British Columbia
There are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...
. In 1998, she was nicknamed "Pudding" by her teammates, due to her sweet tooth.
Born missing her left arm below the elbow as well as both legs below the knees, she began skiing at the age of 4 and began competitive skiing at the age of 14.
Sporting career
She represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Paralympics2002 Winter Paralympics
The 2002 Winter Paralympics, the eighth Winter Paralympics, were held in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, from March 7 to March 16, 2002. A total of 416 athletes from 36 nations participated....
in Salt Lake City, winning two gold medals and a bronze.
She represented her country
Canada at the 2006 Winter Paralympics
Canada participated in the ninth Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy. Heading the delegation was the Chef de Mission, Marg McGregor. The country's flag bearer at the opening ceremony was Todd Nicholson, captain of the ice sledge hockey team....
again at the 2006 Games
2006 Winter Paralympics
The 2006 Winter Paralympic Games, the ninth Winter Paralympics, took place in Turin, Italy from 10 to 19 March 2006. These were the first Winter Paralympic Games to be held in Italy. They were also the first Paralympics to use the new paralympics logo....
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, winning gold in the Giant Slalom and silver in the Super G.
She had contemplated retiring after the 2006 Games, but decided to stick around through the 2010 Games in Canada.
In 2007, during the International Paralympic Committee
International Paralympic Committee
The International Paralympic Committee is an international non-profit organisation and the global governing body for the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and functions as the international federation for nine sports...
's General Assembly in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Woolstencroft was named the Paralympic Sport Awards 2007 Best Female Athlete. She was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame
Terry Fox Hall of Fame
The Terry Fox Hall of Fame recognizes "outstanding Canadians who have made extraordinary contributions to enriching the quality of life for people with physical disabilities". It is run by the Canadian Paraplegic Association. The Hall is named after Terry Fox, a cancer research activist who...
in 2007.
In the 2010 Winter Paralympics
2010 Winter Paralympics
The 2010 Winter Paralympics, officially the X Paralympic Winter Games, or the 10th Winter Paralympics, were held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada from March 12 to 21, 2010. The Opening Ceremony took place in BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and the Closing Ceremony in Whistler...
she won 5 gold medals for
Alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Paralympics
The alpine skiing competition of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics will be held at Whistler, British Columbia. The events were due to be held between 13 March and 21 March 2010...
Giant Slalom, Slalom, Super-G, Downhill Skiing, and Super Combined. She became the first Canadian
Canada at the Paralympics
Canada has participated eleven times in the Summer Paralympic Games and in all Winter Paralympic Games. They first competed at the Summer Games in 1968 and the Winter Games in 1976.-Milestones:...
to win 3 golds at the same Winter Paralympics
Canada at the 2010 Winter Paralympics
Canada was the host country of the 2010 Winter Paralympics, in Vancouver, the first time it had hosted the Winter Paralympics.The 2010 Winter Paralympics was the most successful Winter Paralympics for Canada, through 2010. It collected the most total medals and most gold medals of any Winter...
, this total was later increased to 5 golds. With her 4th gold medal, she helped Canada set a record for most gold medals at any Winter Paralympic Games by winning the 7th medal. The previous mark was six, set at the 2002 Salt Lake City Paralympics. With her 5th gold medal, she set the record for most gold medals won by any Winter Paralympian at a single Games, and she tied the record for gold medal haul of any Canadian Paralympian at a single Games, tying Chantal Petitclerc
Chantal Petitclerc
Chantal Petitclerc, CC is a Canadian wheelchair racer.At the age of thirteen, she lost the use of both legs when a heavy barn door fell on her...
(who did the feat twice) and Stephanie Dixon
Stéphanie Dixon
Stéphanie Dixon is a Canadian swimmer. Prior to the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, Dixon had accumulated fifteen Paralympic medals and is considered to be one of the best swimmers with a disability in the world....
, both Summer Paralympians. Her five gold are also the record for any Canadian Winter Paralympian or Olympian.