The Para alpine skier struck gold at Nagano 1998 to help the NZ Paralympic Team to a total haul of six medals. Raised in the small town of Ōmarama in the McKenzie Basin, Kevin was born with a congenial dislocation of the hips. Taking up skiing in his early 20s, he became open to a career as an international Para alpine skiing following a visit by the US Disabled Ski Team for a training camp in Cardrona in 1988.
Inspired he made his international debut at the 1990 Disabled Alpine World Championships at Winter Park, USA. Two years later, Kevin earned selection for the NZ Paralympic Team for the Albertville 1992 Paralympic Winter Games. Competing in three events he earned a best finishing position of ninth in the Men’s Slalom LW1,3,5/7,9.
A much-improved Para athlete at Lillehammer 1994, Kevin claimed an outstanding bronze medal in the Men’s Slalom LW1/3. That was the beginning of a very successful journey as Kevin snared bronze in the Slalom and silver in the Giant Slalom at the 1996 Disabled Alpine World Championships held in Austria. At his third Paralympic Winter Games, Kevin memorably won a gold medal at Nagano 1998 in the Super-G LW1,3,5/7. Following this success, he retired from the sport at the age of 32. A grandfather of four today he lives in Christchurch.
For a feature on Kevin’s career go here.
