Pink Australian flag for Peppa Pig-inspired para-skier
Joanna Guelas |
Flying a pink Australian flag with her face on it, para-alpine skier Liana France has marked herself as one to watch at Paralympics to come.
The 16-year-old became the youngest female winter Paralympian to compete for Australia as she clinched a 15th-place finish in Thursday’s women’s giant slalom standing at the Milan-Cortina Games.
France was welcomed at the finish line by a pink Australian flag with her face having been photoshopped across it by her family.
Fellow debutant and Australia’s flagbearer Georgia Gunew, 23, was 11th in the vision-impaired event with guide Ethan Jackson – and they were also greeted home by a sign which read “YEAH THE GIRLS … and Ethan”.
From Beechworth in north-west Victoria, France, at just two years old, was inspired by an episode of the Peppa Pig cartoon to take up skiing and go to the Olympics.
The dream changed to making the Australian Paralympics team in 2023, after France’s left hand was severed in a vehicle accident.
Just three years on, France had no qualms about “sending it” down the Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina and momentarily sat in top spot as the fourth athlete down the second run.
“I don’t want to jinx myself, but this is my first Games at 16,” France said.
“In the future, I would say that I’m definitely someone to watch out for from Australia.
“I got to the podium waiting area and they were like, ‘Oh, take a seat!’, and I was like, ‘Oh, okay’, and they pointed to the first-place spot.
“Like, I’ve been watching World Cups for years, and that was really such an unreal experience to be able to see my dream come true.
“So watch out for future me!”
As her hometown gathered to watch across three parties, France’s mum Kylie led the nine-strong support group – boasting yellow and green wigs – on the ground.
France’s childhood idol Greta Small, fellow Australian alpine skier and three-time Olympian, was also in the stands as a surprise.
“She had strict instructions about size, about the photo of her,” Kylie France said of the pink flag.
“She’s 100 per cent a type-A personality. If she can’t go big, she’s not even interested in doing it.”
Gunew, 22, is out to leave a lasting impression in Saturday’s slalom event after a confidence-boosting result in the giant slalom.
“We can definitely give it a better crack,” Gunew said.
“We’re just going to send it as best we can.”
Australia boasts just one medal after six days of competition, with four-time Paralympian Ben Tudhope claiming SB-LL2 snowboard cross silver.
Tudhope will contest the banked slalom a day earlier than expected on Friday, due to weather concerns.
Australian captain Sean Pollard (SB-UL) and Aaron McCarthy (SB-LL1) will also compete in the banked slalom, but Amanda Reid has withdrawn after crashing out of the women’s SB-LL2 pre-heat last Sunday.
Reid – also a para-cyclist – had been taken to hospital after the crash, with scans showing bruising in her lower back.
Australia has also pulled out of the 4 x 2.5 mixed cross-country relay, Lauren Parker and Dave Miln the country’s only athletes to compete in the 20km race on Sunday.
AAP travelled to Cortina d’Ampezzo as a guest of Paralympics Australia.
AAP