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INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE
13036-Karolina Wisniewska photo

Karolina Wisniewska

Canada flag
Canada
Alpine Skiing
4
4

Biography

Impairment information

Type of Impairment
Ataxia

Further personal information

Occupation
Public Servant
Languages
English, French, Polish
Higher education
Political Science, History - McGill University [Canada] / Oxford University [England]

Sport specific information

When and where did you begin this sport?
She began skiing at age five in Calgary, Alberta.
Why this sport?
She began skiing as a form of physical therapy.

International debut

Year
1996
Competing for
Canada
Tournament
World Championship
Location
Lech

General interest

Nicknames
Goldie, Smiley, Koro (karolinawisniewska.com, 27 Oct 2010)
Hobbies
Eating chocolate, cycling. (karolinawisniewska.com, 27 Oct 2010)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning bronze in slalom at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. (karolinawisniewska.com, 27 Oct 2010)
Injuries
She sustained an injury during a downhill race in February 2011, forcing her to miss the entire 2011/12 season. (canadiansportcentre.com, 14 May 2012)
Awards and honours
In 2007, she became the first Paralympian to be inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame. (karolinawisniewska.com, 27 Oct 2010)

At the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, she became the first Canadian alpine skier to win four medals [two silver and two bronze] at a single edition of the Paralympic Winter Games. (karolinawisniewska.com, 27 Oct 2010)
Other information
COMEBACK AND RETIREMENT
In 2004 she was forced to retire due to a serious concussion, several months after winning the overall world cup title. She came out of retirement in 2007, but after sustaining an injury several years later in February 2011, she announced her retirement from the sport for a second time in May 2012. (karolinawisniewska.com, 27 Oct 2010; canadiansportcentre.com, 14 May 2012)

Results

Unit Date Rank
Nagano 1998 Paralympic Winter Games (Nagano, Japan)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Women's Slalom LW3,4,5/7,6/8 Final Round 9999
Women's Downhill LW3,4,6/8 Final Round 6
Women's Super-G LW3,4,5/7,6/8 Final Round 2
Women's Giant Slalom LW3,4,5/7,6/8 Final Round 2
Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games (Vancouver, Canada)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Women's Slalom Standing Final Round 3
Women's Giant Slalom Standing Final Round 4
Women's Super Combined Standing Final Round 3
Women's Super-G Standing Final Round 7
Women's Downhill Standing Final Round 5
Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympic Winter Games (Salt Lake City, United States of America)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Women's Downhill LW3,4,6/8,9 Final Round 3
Women's Super-G LW3,4,6/8,9 Final Round 3
Women's Giant Slalom LW3,4,9 Final Round 2
Women's Slalom LW3,4,9 Final Round 2
IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships (Kangwonland, South Korea)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Women's Giant Slalom Standing Final 2009-02-21 8
Women's Super-G Standing Final 2009-02-23 8
Women's Super-Combined Standing Final 2009-02-23 8
Women's Super-G Standing Run 2 2009-02-24 7
Women's Downhill Standing Final 2009-02-28 4
2011 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships (Sestriere, Italy)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Women's Downhill Standing Final 2011-01-16 5
Women's Super-G Standing Final 2011-01-18 6
Women's Super-Combined Standing Final 2011-01-19 3
Women's Slalom Standing Final 2011-01-20 3
Women's Giant Slalom Standing Final 2011-01-21 6
Mixed Team Event VI/Sitting/Standing Final 2011-01-23 7