Hunter Champion Lauren Parker's Historic Paralympic Bid After Just Nine Months on Snow
Lauren Parker, a celebrated athlete from the Hunter region, is on the brink of making Paralympic history. Less than nine months after her first proper experience on snow, she is poised to become just the eighth Australian to compete at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games.
From Contiki Tour to Paralympic Pursuit
Parker's journey to the snow began unexpectedly. Her only prior encounter with snow was nearly two decades ago during a Contiki tour stop in Switzerland, where she merely walked on it without skiing. That changed dramatically in mid-2025 when she picked up poles and skis for the first time at Perisher, launching a rapid ascent in winter sports.
Now 37 years old, the Novocastrian, born in Belmont and based in Louth Park near Maitland, has transitioned from her golden successes in summer sports to target cross-country skiing and biathlon at the upcoming Winter Paralympics in Milano Cortina, scheduled for March 6-15.
A Jam-Packed Year Ahead
Parker's 2026 schedule is incredibly demanding. After a final training camp in Austria to secure her spot on the Australian team, which is expected to be announced later in February, she will quickly shift focus back to her summer disciplines. Her year includes triathlon and cycling events such as the Oceania Championships in New Zealand, World Cups in Belgium, Italy, Montreal, and Germany, and World Championships in America and Spain, wrapping up by October.
"I've got a massive year ahead," Parker told the Newcastle Herald, highlighting the intensity of her commitments across multiple sports.
Overcoming Challenges on the Snow
Mastering winter sports has presented unique hurdles for Parker, who was paralysed from the waist down after a training accident near Raymond Terrace in 2017. She notes that balance and skill on the slippery snow are major challenges, especially without brakes on a sit-ski.
"It's so different to being on a bike and having brakes, when you're on a sit ski you don't have any brakes at all," she explained. "You can easily crash, it's been super scary. I've had to overcome a lot of fears."
Despite these obstacles, Parker remains optimistic, citing her performance at a tough World Cup course in Canada as a confidence booster. "If I can conquer that, then I can do anything I guess," she said.
A Legacy of Achievement and Future Ambitions
Parker's athletic career is already storied, with gold medals in triathlon and cycling at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and an OAM awarded in the 2025 Australia Day honours. Her foray into winter sports aligns with her earlier expressed desire to explore new disciplines, including para rowing and para canoe, with an eye on competing in three sports at future Paralympics.
Reflecting on her rapid progress, Parker said, "No pressure for this one because I'm not in medal contention, anything can happen I guess, but I've only just started mid last year so just to make the team would be a big achievement." She added, "Maybe in four years time I'll be in medal contention, who knows, but it's a huge accomplishment [already] for such a short time doing it."
As she trains on Newcastle's blue track and prepares for Austria, Parker's bid underscores her resilience and versatility, aiming to join an elite group of Australian athletes who have excelled in both summer and winter Paralympic arenas.
