Rachael fell from a car at the age of four, resulting in paralysis of her left arm. Taking up skiing aged 14 in 1997 she made the decision to have the arm amputated. Aged just 19, she made her Paralympic debut at the Nagano 1998 Paralympic Winter Games featuring in a five-strong NZ Paralympic Team and placed tenth in the Women’s Super-G LW3,4,5/7,6/8.
Under the coaching guidance of Jane Stevens, who go on to be the Beijing 2022 and Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games NZ Paralympic Team Chef de Mission, she made big improvements and dominated the 2001-2 World Cup season.
At only 23 years of age, Rachael produced an outstanding performance at the Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympic Winter Games winning her least favourite event with gold in the Women’s Downhill LW3,4,6/8,9 she went on to take gold in the Women’s Giant Slalom LW6/8 and Women’s Slalom LW6/8 to become the most decorated female NZ Paralympic Team athlete at the Paralympic Winter Games.
To read more on Rachael’s incredible story go here
