Jessica Gallagher

Australian Paralympic alpine skier

Jessica Gallagher (born 14 March 1986) be Australian Paralympic alpine skier, track den field athlete, tandem cyclist den rower. Na she be Australia ein second female Winter Paralympian, den de first Australian woman make she win medal for de Winter Paralympics for de 2010 Vancouver Games. She compete for de 2014 Winter Paralympics insyd Sochi, wer na she win bronze medal insyd de women's giant slalom visually impaired.[1]

Jessica Gallagher
human
Ein sex anaa genderfemale Edit
Country wey e be citizenAustralia Edit
Country for sportAustralia Edit
Name wey dem give amJessica Edit
Family nameGallagher Edit
Ein date of birth14 March 1986 Edit
Place dem born amGeelong Edit
Ein occupationnetballer, athletics competitor Edit
Educate forRMIT University, Victorian Institute of Sport Edit
ResidenceMelbourne Edit
Sportpara-alpine skiing, athletics, netball Edit
Sports discipline competed injavelin throw, long jump Edit
Participant insyd2014 Winter Paralympics, 2010 Winter Paralympics, 2012 Summer Paralympics Edit
Dema official websitehttp://www.jessgallagher.com.au/ Edit

She be legally blind, wey she dey represent Australia internationally insyd three sports: skiing, athletics den cycling. Besides ein skiing achievements, she represent Australia insyd athletics for de 2012 Summer Paralympics insyd London, wey she win silver den bronze medal for de 2011 Christchurch IPC Athletics World Championships for long jump den javelin insyd, respectively. She sanso represent de state of Victoria as junior insyd netball den basketball. Na dem select Gallagher insyd de Australian cycling team plus ein pilot Madison Janssen for de 2016 Rio Paralympics.[2] Ein "long term goal is to be the first Australian to medal at a summer and winter Paralympics or Olympics".[3] Na she achieve dis wen she win bronze medal insyd de women's B/VI 1000m time trial insyd Rio.

Na dem select am insyd track cycling for de 2024 Paris Paralympics- ein fourth Paralympics (two winter den two summer).[4]

Personal

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Wikinews reporters interview Australian Paralympic skier Jessica Gallagher den ein guide Eric Bickerton

Na dem born Gallagher for 14 March 1986 wey she dey live insyd de Geelong suburb of Highton.[5] Insyd 2009, she graduate from RMIT University plus Master of Osteopathy,[6] wey she be registered osteopath.[5][7]

For de time of de 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics, na she dey date de American Paralympic sitting ski slalomer Gerald Hayden.[8] She be ambassador give de Australian Paralympic Committee,[9] Vision Australia,[10] Seeing Eye Dogs Australia,[11] Vision 2020 Australia,[12] Kx Pilates[13] den 2XU.[13]

She be legally blind secof Best's disease, rare condition.[6][14] She start dey loose ein eyesight wen she na she teenager, she receive de results of tests while na she dey compete for de U17 national netball championships.[15]

Na dem select Gallagher make she compete for de 2008 Beijing Paralympics insyd long jump, 100m, shot put den discus, but she fail ein classification test seof de classifiers say na de eyesight insyd ein right eye be 0.01% better dan e need to be. Insyd November 2009, na dem revisit ein classification secof deterioration of ein vision wey na dem deem am eligible make she compete.[14][16]

Na dem appoint Gallagher to de Board of Vision 2020 Australia insyd June 2015 wey she sanso be member of ein Member, Finance den Audit Committee.[17]

Insyd March 2018 na dem induct am into de Victorian Honour Roll of Women.[18] Insyd December 2023, na dem award Gallagher Honorary Doctor of Social Science by RMIT University.[19]

Sports

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Netball, basketball den snowboarding

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She play netball den basketball plus able-bodied competitors,[20] she first participate for de elite level insyd both sports as she start dey loose ein vision.[21] Insyd netball, na she be goal keeper den goal attack, wey she represent Victoria chaw times wey dem name am as emergency give de Australian U16 team. Insyd de Victorian league's Championship Division, she represent both Palladians den Altona Lightning. Insyd basketball, she represent de Geelong Cats for five years wey she sanso represent Victoria Country. For dat time, na ein goal make she cam turn professional netball anaa basketball player. As well, she play netball insyd de Geelong Football Netball League, wey she dey represent South Barwon den Leopold. Despite ein low vision wey she dey miss one third of de games secof ein Paralympic training program, she win de A grade Best den Fairest Award insyd 2007, wey she dey represent Leopold.

Gallagher sanso be snowboarder, wey she take up de sport while for working holiday insyd Vail, Colorado before she find out about de Winter Paralympic Games.[14]

Competitive skiing

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Jessica Gallagher plus sighted guide Christian Geiger insyd December 2013. De microphones dey allow dem make den communicate plus each oda.

Na Gallagher be de first Australian woman make she win medal for de Winter Paralympics, den Australia ein second female Winter Paralympian.[22] Na dem give am de opportunity make she compete for de highest levels insyd skiing after dem identify am during talent search den secof ein snowboarding experience. As she be blind, she dey compete plus guide Eric Bickerton wey be ein first guide.[5] Steve Graham wey dey coach am,[16] wey he sanso coach Michael Milton[23] wey he be de current head coach of de Australian Institute of Sport ein Winter Paralympic program.[24][25] Ein Australian training base dey for de Victorian Institute of Sport ein training centre wey dey locate for Lakeside Stadium insyd South Melbourne.[26] While she actively dey train six days a week, ein individual training sessions go last between two den three hours each a total of ten to twelve sessions by de end of de week.[27]

Gallagher first represent Australia insyd 2009 for de New Zealand Winter Games, wer na she win gold medal. Insyd January 2010, she compete for ein first IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup event insyd Austria wey she win bronze medal insyd slalom.[5][13] Before de start of de 2010 Games, she compete insyd nine World Cup events.[16] For ein 24th birthday,[16] she win bronze medal for de Vancouver games insyd de women's slalom visually impaired event,[28] wey she cam turn de first Australian woman make she do so.[22] Insyd ein first den second time down de hill, she fini third both times.[22][29] She sanso compete insyd de women's giant slalom visually impaired event for de 2010 Games,[28] wey she fini seventh after headset issues wey cause am problems plus communication.[30]

Insyd 2013, for de IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup insyd Thredbo, New South Wales, several weeks after she take for ein fresh guide, Christian Geiger top, she win two silver medals insyd giant slalom den slalom.[5] For de 2014 Sochi Paralympics, Gallagher (Geiger guide am) win bronze medal insyd de women's giant slalom visually impaired wey she cam seventh insyd de women's giant slalom visually impaired.[1]

Na she dey insyd de Australian Institute of Sport Alpine Skiing Program since 2009.[31]

Australia ein National Sports Museum put several items wey relate to am for display after ein bronze medal win for de 2010 Vancouver Games.[10]

Competitive athletics

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Gallagher be athletics competitor,[9] wey compete insyd long jump, discus, shot put, javelin den sprinting.[20][27] She cam turn involve insyd athletics after she learn about de Paralympics.[15] For de skills assessment, na de classifiers make she try shot put den, despite she dress for casual athletic attire insyd, she manage throw wey meet de Paralympic qualifying distance.[15] After year of training, she increase dis initial distance by 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) make she get personal best throw of ova 12 metres (39 ft).[15] She dey zuk chaw records insyd de F13 classification, wey dey include Australian den Oceanian records insyd de long jump, javelin den shot put, den Australian record insyd discus.[6] Insyd athletics, na ein coaches include Mike Edwards den John Boas. Insyd January 2011, she compete for de 2011 Christchurch IPC Athletics World Championships, wer na she fini second insyd de long jump den third insyd de javelin throw event, plus throw of 33.75 metres (110.7 ft). Ein appearance for de championships mark ein return to de sport after she take a break make she compete insyd skiing.[32]

For de 2012 London Paralympics, Gallagher compete insyd de women's long jump F13 den women's javelin throw F12/13 events, wey she fini fifth den sixth respectively.[28][33][34] Na Gallagher be disappointed plus dese results, wey she suffer severe tear insyd ein meniscus during training wey force am make she use crutches insyd de month wey dey lead up to de competition.[35]

Insyd 2014 interview Gallagher express wat competing give Summer den Winter Paralympics mean to am. She say: I love the unique cultural experience each host city brings. Ultimately, competing for your country on the world's biggest sporting stage is a pinnacle. It brings memories and experiences that last a lifetime.[36]

Competitive cycling

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Gallagher (right) den pilot Madison Janssen (left) be all smiles after dem win bronze medal insyd de women's B/VI 1000m time trial final

Na dem encourage Gallagher make she take up cycling by Victorian Institute of Sport coach Glenn Doney. Na de decision make she transfer to cycling dem make am easier after ein favourite athletics event, de long jump, dem no include am for de 2016 Rio Paralympics athletics program top. Gallagher dey believe dat track cycling be easier dan downhill skiing. She say: "Being a skier, the guide is not connected to me like on a tandem and so I need to ski at high speeds under incredibly intense variabilities that constantly change. The velodrome is a stable environment."[3] For de 2016 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships insyd Montichiari, Italy, Gallagher den ein pilot Madison Janssen make dema international debut. Dem win de gold medal insyd de women's Sprint B insyd world record time den de bronze insyd de women's 1 km Time Trial B.[37][38] Insyd September 2016, she cam turn de first Australian make she medal insyd both de Summer den Winter Paralympics wen she win bronze medal insyd de women's B/VI 1000m time trial for de 2016 Summer Paralympics insyd Rio de Janeiro plus Janssen. Dem fini ninth insyd de women's individual pursuit B.[39]

For de 2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, plus Madison Janssen she win silver medals insyd de women's tandem time trial den sprint.[40]

For de 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships insyd Apeldoorn, Netherlands, plus Madison Janssen win de silver medal insyd The Women's Tandem Spring wey she fini fourth insyd de women's Time Trial.[41]

For de 2022 Commonwealth Games insyd Birmingham, England, Gallagher win gold medals insyd de women's tandem sprint B den time trial B plus pilot Caitlin Ward.[42]

For de 2022 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships insyd Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, plus Caitlin Ward win two silver medals – Women's Sprint B den Women's Time Trial B.[43]

For de 2024 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships insyd Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, plus Caitlin Ward win two bronze medals – Women's Sprint B den Women's Time Trial B.[44]

Competitive rowing

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Gallagher plus Alexandra Viney, Tom Birthwhistle, James Talbot den Teesaan Koo (cox) fini fourth insyd de PR3 Mixed Coxed Four for de 2022 World Rowing Championships.[45] For de 2023 World Rowing Championships, Gallagher plus ein crew of Tom Birtwhistle, Harrison Nichols, Susannah Lutze, den cox Teesan Koo, fini fourth insyd de PR3 Mixed Coxed Four.[46]

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 Paxinos, Stathi (16 March 2014). "Sochi Winter Paralympics: Jess Gallagher wins giant slalom bronze". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  2. "Australian Paralympic Team announced". Australian Paralympic Committee News, 30 May 2016. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Unfinished business: Jessica Gallagher wants that summer Paralympic medal". SBS. 28 April 2016. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  4. "Paralympics Australia Names Cycling Team For Paris 2024 | Paralympics Australia". www.paralympic.org.au. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Jessica Gallagher". Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 "RMIT graduate makes Paralympics history". RMIT. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  7. "RMIT graduate makes Paralympics history". RMIT University. 17 March 2010. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  8. Lewis, Daniel. "Gallagher claims Australia's first medal". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, Australia. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Jessica Gallagher". Athletics Australia. Archived from the original on 29 November 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Don't miss this opportunity to learn to Ski at Mt Baw Baw". Vision Australia. 12 July 2011.
  11. "Our ambassadors and patrons". Seeing Eye Dogs Australia. Archived from the original on 7 August 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  12. "Jessica Gallagher". Vision 2020 Australia. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Jessica Gallagher". The Sports Vault. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Marinos, Sarah (4 September 2012). "Going for gold". The Weekly Review. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Silkstone, Dan (14 April 2010). "Turning Point". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 McDonald, Margie (15 March 2010). "Jessica Gallagher rejoices in Paralympic history". The Australian. Sydney, Australia. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  17. "Annual Report 2014-2015" (PDF). Vision 2020 Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  18. "Victorian Honour Roll of Women". Women Victoria – vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  19. "Jessica Gallagher | Defying Limits and Inspiring Generations". Victorian Institute of Sport. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  20. 20.0 20.1 "Jessica Gallagher". Australian Institute of Sport. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  21. "Paralympic Heroes". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 "Skier Jessica Gallagher first Australian woman to win Paralympic medal". Adelaide Advertiser. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  23. "Take It to the Limit – Transcript". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 March 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  24. "Paralympic Alpine Skiing Home". Australian Institute of Sport. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  25. "AIS Athlete of the Year Finalists named". Australian Olympic Committee. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  26. "Jessica Gallagher". Victorian Institute of Sport. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  27. 27.0 27.1 "Jessica Gallagher". Sport for Women. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 "Jessica Gallagher". Paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  29. "Jessica Gallagher Paralympic medal a first for Aussie women". Geelong Advertiser. Geelong, Victoria. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  30. Caruana, Patrick (17 March 2010). "Aussies struggle in fog at Creekside". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  31. "Athlete Spotlight: Jessica Gallagher". Australian Institute of Sport. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  32. "Gallagher proves herself with world championships bronze". Australia: Athletics Australia. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  33. "Women's Long Jump F13 results". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  34. "Women's Javelin F12/13 results". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  35. "London 2012". Jessica Gallagher's blog. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  36. "Jessica Gallagher". Jetstar Magazine: 136. March 2014. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  37. "Gallagher gold headlines six medal haul on day three". Cycling Australia News. 20 March 2016. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  38. "Tandem duo sprint to maiden world title; Australia finishes with 14 medals". Cycling Australia News. 21 March 2016. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  39. "Womens B 1000m Time Trial Schedule & Results – Paralympic Cycling Track". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  40. "10 medals for Australia at Para Track Worlds". Cycling Australia website. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  41. "2019 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships – Day 4 Report". UCI Cycling website. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  42. "2022 Commonwealth Games Results". Commonwealth Games Australia. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  43. "Results – UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships". UCI. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  44. "2024 UCI Paracycling Track World Championships". paraworlds2024.veloresults.com. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  45. "Silver and Bronze on the Penultimate Day of the 2022 World Rowing Championships". Rowing Australia. 25 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  46. "Silver lining for Morrison, McIntyre as Pair cast their eyes toward Paris". Rowing Australia. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
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