Sochi Wrap Up - For ABC Northern Tasmania

Australia finished the games with a rush of bronze medals in the last couple of days of the Sochi Winter Paralympics.

Toby Kane took out the Bronze medal in the 'Super Combined' event.

• This second part of the super combined event had been postponed after weather conditions were unfavourable  earlier in the week.
• Toby was reaching speeds of close to 120km  during the giant slalom component (or the GS). To put this in perspective, you'd probably incur a speeding ticket if you were traveling at speeds like this along the highway.
• His efforts have been recognised with the awarding of the prestigious IPC Whang Dai Achievement Medal for excellence.  The medal was presented at the Closing Ceremony in front of more than 40,000 people and a global television audience.

Bronze Medal to Jess Gallagher in the giant slalom event.

• Jess, a visually impaired athlete (with vision of less than 5m) followed up her bronze medal in Vancouver with bronze again in the  giant slalom event for visual impairment.
• In between winter Paralympics, Jess also represented Australia in the Summer Paralympics in 2012.

Mitchell Gourley, a left arm below elbow amputee,  put in some great performances and was unlucky to miss out on a medal finishing 5th in the Men's Super Combined - just 0.24 seconds behind team mate Toby Kane.

For three of the Australian athletes Cameron Rahels-Rahbula, Melissa Perrin and Joany Badenhurst, the games were a bit heartbreaking, with injuries, illness, difficult weather conditions creating a few setbacks and close calls.  They did their country proud in the way that they handled themselves.

Opening ceremony flag bearer Cameron Rahles-Rabula was ruled out of the games with injuries he sustained in a training run just days before the start of the.  The 2014 Games were Cameron's last games after announcing his retirement.

Melissa Perrin and guide Andy Borrow faced a number of setbacks through the games including a disqualification in the Women's Super combined Slalom event and 3 DNFs.  It was not all bad news for Mel, with a fourth in the Women's downhill event.

Melissa Perrin with guide Andy Bor. (Source: Australian Paralympic Committee)

First time Paralympian Joany Badenhaust in the snowboard event, dislocated her knee in a warm up run and was unable to compete.Three first time paralympians, Ben Tudhope, Trent Milton and Victoria Pendergast gained valuable experience and will certainly be  ones to watch for future events.  With the retirement of two of the team's most experienced athletes, Toby Kane and Cameron Rahles-Rahbula we'll be looking to the younger generation to lead the way at the 2018 Games in South Korea.

Ben Tudhope

Australia's youngest team member (at the age of 14!) and flag bearer at the closing ceremony recorded a 10th in the snowboard cross event.  More than 30 athletes competed in the snowboard cross event - once of the most contested events on the program

Trent Milton

Trent, a below knee amputee and acquired brain injury, finished 20th in the men's snowboard cross event

Victoria Pendergast

Australia's first female sit ski athlete competed in two events - the 'Women's Slalom' and (finishing 8th overall) and the 'Women's Giant Slalom' event (finishing 10th overall).  Victoria took to the snow with style and confidence!

In recognition of his contribution to the Paralympic movement, Toby Kane was presented the prestigious International Paralympic Committee Whag Yon Dai achievement award at the closing ceremony in front of more than 40,000 people and a global television audience.  This award is presented to a male and female athlete at the summer and winter Paralympics.  This is the first time an Australian Athlete has received the award - congratulation Toby!