Liana France becomes Australia’s youngest female winter Paralympian
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France brought this little checklist to the Paralympics so this week it could finally find an official to tick the last box.
“Who would have thought that nine-year-old Liana, who said ‘I want to go to the Olympics’ and then moved on to the Paralympics after the accident, that we would be able to take her this far and support her? She is absolutely amazing,” her mother said.
France’s best friend Ella was also in the crowd to watch, after promising as a child that if she reached this stage the other one would be there too.
“She’s a huge inspiration to everyone. I think especially women. She’s such a feminist herself, she’d love it,” Ella said. “He’s everything he wants to be. I know he inspires me at least, I know he inspires his sister, and I know he inspires about a billion people. Just getting up and going ‘up’ in the snow isn’t going to stop me.”
France played its first match at the Paralympics with teammate Georgia Gunew, 22, and guide Ethan Jackson (25). A poster in the crowd read “yes girls…and Ethan.”
Georgia Gunew and her guide Ethan Jackon compete in the women’s giant slalom.Credit: Getty Images
“Ethan like that one of the girls,” Gunew said.
Like France, Gunew grew up skiing but lost his sight at the age of 15 when he was diagnosed with Stargardt macular dystrophy. Despite being legally blind, Gunew reaches speeds of up to 100 km per hour and does so with the help of Jackson, who wears a fluoro vest and Bluetooth headset to help him get down the mountain.
“Skiing with Liana is also great. I’m very excited,” Gunew said. “The whole time I’ve been skiing with the team I’ve never had another female competitor from Australia on the same day as me. So it’s been lovely. She’s so young and energetic and always has something a little funny to say, so I love having her on the team.”
In the women’s giant slalom standing and visually impaired categories, France came 15th out of 22, and Gunew came 11th out of 15. Both will compete again on Saturday in their preferred event, the women’s slalom.
Georgia Gunew and Ethan Jackson embrace at the finish line of the giant slalom.Credit: Getty Images
“I don’t want to jinx myself, but this is my first match at 16. So I can say that I’m definitely one to watch from Australia in the future,” France said.
This tag went to Cortina as a guest of the Australian Paralympic Games.
The Winter Paralympics are broadcast on Nine Network, 9Now and Stan Sport.
