Rae of sunshine – Winter and Summer
Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness Elite Athlete Program member Rae Anderson has been selected in the 10-member Australian team to compete at the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games which begins on 4 March.
Selection for Beijing puts Rae in the small club of athletes who have competed at both Summer and Winter Games. The 25-year-old A Bachelor of Arts (Indonesian Studies) student finished fifth in the javelin F37 classification at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Paralympics. She’ll be competing in alpine skiing events at this years Games.
The 10-member Australian squad includes six male athletes, two female athletes and two female sighted guides. Rae and Josh Hanlon are the other two para alpine skiers who will be making their Winter Games debut.
Rae’s selection came on the back of a successful trip to the US where she won the slalom and slalom 50-point result at the Winter Park NORAMs (North Americans) in Colorado and finished second in giant slalom. She also won the slalom and slalom 50-point result at the Park City NORAMs in Utah and finished second in the giant slalom.
Beijing will welcome approximately 600 of the world’s best Paralympic athletes for the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, becoming the first city to have hosted both the summer and winter editions of the Paralympic Games.
The Paralympics will take place over 10 days from 4-13 March, with athletes competing in 78 different events across six sports in two disciplines: snow sports (alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon and snowboarding) and ice sports (para ice hockey and wheelchair curling).
As for Rae, she says she’s grateful she had an epiphany so early on in her life and sporting career. “It taught me to enjoy elite sports and the opportunities it provides and to push myself to be the best athlete, physically, mentally, and personally that I can be. It has allowed me this sense of gratitude and connection with my sporting career and life beyond sport. I love competing for Australia and I now know that life after sport is going to be pretty awesome too.
“My goals are to win a Paralympic medal at Beijing and to assist at the Westmead Children’s Hospital and all those who have helped me,” she said. “My desire to achieve and support others to greatness through my story and accomplishments is what truly keeps me motivated. I have come a long way and to be succeeding at this level for me, is the motivation. I am grateful every day.”
Here’s for a golden moment in Beijing.
Track selected athletes and their schedules and results below.
Sydney University Sport and Fitness Elite Athlete Program member Rae Anderson has been selected in the 10-member Australian team to compete at the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games.
Selection for Beijing puts Rae in the small club of athletes who have competed at both Summer and Winter Games. The 26-year-old Bachelor of Arts (Indonesian Studies) student finished fifth in the javelin F37 classification at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Paralympics.
She’ll be competing in alpine skiing events at this years Games.
11 March 2022
Women’s Giant Slalom – Standing
Rae Anderson placed 11th in Run 1 and 10th in Run 2, earning her 10th place overall.
