Top 50 Moments of 2017: No. 13 - Kampschreur wins three world titles

Jeroen Kampschreur sprang a major surprise at his first World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, last January, as he sealed three golds to become the first Dutch Para alpine skier to win a world title.

The 17-year-old’s performance at Tarvisio 2017 makes it to No. 13 in the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) Top 50 Moments of 2017.

With little international experience under his belt, Kampschreur upset established names in the circuit such as Andrew Kurka of the USA, Paralympic silver medallist and former world champion Corey Peters of New Zealand, Taiki Morii of Japan and Paralympic champion Christoph Kunz of Switzerland.

Kampschreur secured triple gold in the men’s giant slalom, slalom and super-combined races. Following his win in the latter, he said: “I came down, two guys still to come. I was watching the other two guys. Secretly I knew I had already won it.

“[…] Waiting, waiting. The guys came down and Corey didn’t finish. It was going really fast, my parents were there. Everyone came to me like ‘you’re the world champion.’ I didn’t realise it until the next day.

“The World Championships is something different. It says you’re the best in that discipline in the world.”

It was a great season for Kampschreur not only thanks to his three world titles but also because he ended first in the slalom and second in the super-G to end third overall at the World Cup standings.

Despite his youth, the Dutch will be a main contender for gold at the upcoming Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, from 9-18 March.

“It would be so cool [to win a medal],” Kampschreur said. “I have always raced against these guys. They were always better than me but suddenly you just beat them. You’re not intimidated anymore and you beat the guys you look up to.”

The full rundown of the Top 50 Moments will continue until 31 December.