Newcastle athlete Lauren Parker is set to become the eighth Australian to compete at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics, with the gold-medal-winning triathlete to contest the cross-country skiing and biathlon events in Italy.
The 37-year-old won two gold medals and one silver at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics, across triathlon, road race, and the ITT H3 events (individual time trial, hand-cycling).
She also picked up a silver at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Lauren Parker competes in the para-triathlon mixed relay at the 2025 World Triathlon Championship Finals. (Supplied: Aus Triathlon/Delly Carr)
Parker said she first tried snow sports about a year ago, and had never skied until June last year.
“It’s happened so fast, and I’ve put in a lot of hard work, and I’ve had to learn a lot of skills really quickly,” she told ABC NSW Mornings with Paul Turton and Christie Dawes.
“I’m just so excited and so happy that I was able to get the job done.
“I’m still learning every part of this, and I’ve been enjoying that challenge.”
Parker said a close friend who was affiliated with Snow Australia introduced her to the world of skiing.
“[They] reached out to me and said I could have some potential in the sport of cross-country skiing if I wanted to give it a go … and it’s not too late to try and qualify for the Paralympics,” she said.
“When someone dangles that in my face, I’m always up for the challenge.”
Lauren Parker is set to become the eighth Australian to compete at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics. (Supplied: Paralympics Australia)
Incredible feat
Cross-country skiing sees athletes compete in a 2.5-kilometre sprint, 10km and 20km races, or a team-style relay.
Biathlon takes cross-country skiing and combines it with target shooting, a skill Parker learned by being “thrown in the deep end”.
“I picked up the rifle for the very first time two days before racing in Canada in December, so that was the first time I ever shot an actual rifle,” she said.
“I’m doing all three events for biathlon and also all three events for the cross countries as well … so I’ll have six events in total.”
Three-time Paralympic medallist Christie Dawes, now an ABC presenter, said Parker’s achievements and ability to adapt were remarkable.
Lauren Parker won gold in the H1-4 road race at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics. (Supplied: Paralympics Australia)
“[The winter events she’s competing in] have a similar action to wheelchair racing, which she does as one of her legs in the triathlon,” she said.
“I’m so proud of her, doing the double … the Winter and the Summer Games — it’s not unheard of, but it is rare for Australians.
“I think the fact that she’s been able to achieve so much in such a short amount of time tells you that she has the determination, the persistence and the dedication to really knuckle down and try something new and nail it.”