Why we love her
Canada's golden girl Lauren Woolstencroft, 24, won her first Olympic gold medal in alpine skiing at the 2002 Paralympics in Salt Lake City. Born without legs below the knees and her left arm missing below the elbow, Lauren's dedication to the sport, determination and fearlessness has led to success on the slopes and even to the 2006 Paralympic Games in Torino, Italy.
A little luck
Even though Lauren took to skis with ease, she originally had no intention of competing. “A lot of people grow up knowing what they want to do, and I really didn't,” says Lauren. “I had actually been a competitive horseback rider first.” Bored with riding, Lauren quit at age 14. While looking for a new activity, a friend on the Alberta Disabled Alpine Team convinced her to join.
“It kind of hit me at the right time, and once I tried ‘skiing racing,' I instantly fell in love with it.” Lauren's immediate family are avid skiers, so the sport was in her blood. The ambitious Calgary native had strapped on her first set of skis at age four.
“My disability is something I've always dealt with, so I don't know any different. It's normal for me.” While skiing prosthetics give her an edge, it's Lauren's love of the sport that keeps her motivated. “You're not on top of the podium every day, so it's my passion that gets me through the hard times.”
