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A stomach complaint affected Adam Hall at Sochi 2014, as he ended off the podium in all alpine skiing events.
But the New Zealander was determined to return to the Winter Paralympic podium after his historical gold in the men’s slalom standing at Vancouver 2010. And he did it.
Hall had his best Winter Paralympic performance at PyeongChang 2018, claiming gold in the slalom and bronze in the super-combined.
He is a veteran on the circuit despite a host of setbacks, having made his international debut in 2005. In 2007 and 2008, Hall had injuries which impacted his performances and jeopardised his preparations for the major events.
In addition, he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and a torn meniscus in his knee during 2008. Hall recovered on time to secure silver at the 2009 World Championships.
He also took bronze in slalom at the 2013 and 2017 World Championships.
Hall has shown diversity throughout his career with wins across both speed and technical disciplines.
The athlete, farmer and public speaker was born with spina bifida and required several operations on the nerves in his back when he was a child.
Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
LW1
Further personal information
Family
Wife Elitsa, daughter Millie and son Luca.
Residence
United States
Occupation
Student
Languages
English
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began skiing in 1994 at age six in Cardrona, New Zealand.
Why this sport?
He first tried skiing at age six when a friend's mother suggested he try it. Three years later he was introduced to snowboarding, but eventually switched back to skiing because snowboarding was not on the Paralympic Winter Games programme at the time.
Name of coach
Ben Adams, GBR
International debut
Year
2004
Competing for
New Zealand
General interest
Hobbies
Biking, kayaking, golf and outdoor activities. (snowsports.co.nz, 18 Mar 2018)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning a bronze and gold medal at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, his first Paralympic medal since the 2010 Games after failing to win a medal at the 2014 Games. "To be able to reclaim a [Paralympic] gold medal after an eight-year gap was pretty remarkable and something which is pretty rare in the history of the sport. There has not been many people who have done that, so that was a pretty big accomplishment. But also the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award [at the 2018 Games] and that recognition as well was pretty spectacular." (odt.co.nz, 17 Jan 2019)
Most influential person in career
His mother, Gayle, who died in a car accident in 2010 just over a month after he won his first Paralympic gold medal in Vancouver. "She is somebody I obviously think about day in and day out." (tvnz.co.nz, 13 Oct 2020; stuff.co.nz, 18 Mar 2018)
Injuries
He sustained a concussion while competing in the downhill event at the 2015 World Championships in Panorama, BC, Canada. He returned to the slopes three days later to compete in his second event of the championships. (Athlete, 17 Jul 2016)
His performances at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi were affected by a stomach complaint. (tvnz.co.nz, 14 Mar 2014)
He competed through the 2008 season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] and a torn meniscus in his knee. He underwent surgery to repair the meniscus at the end of the season and was sidelined for six weeks. (Athlete, 17 Jul 2016)
In 2007 he tore the meniscus in his knee. After the competition season had finished he underwent surgery and was unable to train for six weeks. (Athlete, 17 Jul 2016)
His performances at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi were affected by a stomach complaint. (tvnz.co.nz, 14 Mar 2014)
He competed through the 2008 season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] and a torn meniscus in his knee. He underwent surgery to repair the meniscus at the end of the season and was sidelined for six weeks. (Athlete, 17 Jul 2016)
In 2007 he tore the meniscus in his knee. After the competition season had finished he underwent surgery and was unable to train for six weeks. (Athlete, 17 Jul 2016)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Dream it, live it, love it." (Athlete, 17 Jul 2016)
Awards and honours
He was named NZ Snowsports Athlete of the Year in 2019, 2018, 2012, 2009 and 2008. He has also been named NZ Snowsports Adaptive Skier of the Year on at least five occasions. (snowsports.co.nz, 01 Jan 2020)
He received the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. The award is given to two Paralympians who best embody the spirit of the Paralympic movement. He was the first New Zealander ever to have received it. (paralympics.org.nz, 18 Mar 2018)
He was named 2018 Athlete of the Year at the Halberg Awards in New Zealand. (snowsports.co.nz, 04 Nov 2020)
He was named as New Zealand's flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi. (nowtolove.co.nz, 22 Feb 2018; insidethegames.biz, 06 Mar 2014)
In 2011 he was made Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of his services to sport. (snowsports.co.nz, 01 Dec 2012)
He received the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. The award is given to two Paralympians who best embody the spirit of the Paralympic movement. He was the first New Zealander ever to have received it. (paralympics.org.nz, 18 Mar 2018)
He was named 2018 Athlete of the Year at the Halberg Awards in New Zealand. (snowsports.co.nz, 04 Nov 2020)
He was named as New Zealand's flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi. (nowtolove.co.nz, 22 Feb 2018; insidethegames.biz, 06 Mar 2014)
In 2011 he was made Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of his services to sport. (snowsports.co.nz, 01 Dec 2012)
Milestones
At the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang he became the first New Zealand athlete to have competed at four Paralympic Winter Games. He was also the only New Zealand athlete to win a gold medal in Pyeongchang. He was also the only New Zealand athlete to win a gold medal at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Nov 2020)
Famous relatives
His wife Elitsa represented the United States of America in alpine skiing at the Paralympic Winter Games in 2006 and 2010. (stuff.co.nz, 05 May 2017)
Impairment
He was born with spina bifida and required several operations on the nerves in his back when he was a child. His impairment affects both legs with significant muscle weakness. (stuff.co.nz, 18 Mar 2018; Athlete, 17 Jul 2016; vancouversun.com, 15 Mar 2010)
Other information
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as the chairperson of the World Para Alpine Skiing Athletes Focus Group. (paralympic.org, 02 Apr 2020)
SKIING ROMANCE
He met his wife Eltisa, who he married in 2014, on a chairlift while at a training camp in Winter Park, CO, United States of America, in the lead-up to the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Turin. She was born in Bulgaria with club foot, which led to the amputation of her right leg, before being adopted by a US couple. (nowtolove.co.nz, 18 Mar 2018; stuff.co.nz, 18 Mar 2018)
He has served as the chairperson of the World Para Alpine Skiing Athletes Focus Group. (paralympic.org, 02 Apr 2020)
SKIING ROMANCE
He met his wife Eltisa, who he married in 2014, on a chairlift while at a training camp in Winter Park, CO, United States of America, in the lead-up to the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Turin. She was born in Bulgaria with club foot, which led to the amputation of her right leg, before being adopted by a US couple. (nowtolove.co.nz, 18 Mar 2018; stuff.co.nz, 18 Mar 2018)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Downhill Standing | Final Round | 41 | ||
| Men's Super-G Standing | Final Round | 50 | ||
| Men's Giant Slalom Standing | Final Round | 43 | ||
| Men's Slalom Standing | Final Round | 9999 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Slalom Standing | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Men's Super Combined Standing | Final Round | 8 | ||
| Men's Super-G Standing | Final Round | 7 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Slalom Standing | Final | 2009-02-20 | 2 | |
| Men's Giant Slalom Standing | Final | 2009-02-21 | 12 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Super-G Standing | Final | 2011-01-18 | 10 | |
| Men's Super-Combined Standing | Final | 2011-01-19 | 8 | |
| Men's Slalom Standing | Final | 2011-01-20 | 10 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Super-G Standing | Race 1 | 2013-02-21 | 9 | |
| Men's Slalom Standing | Race 1 | 2013-02-24 | 3 | |
| Men's Super-Combined Standing | Race 1 | 2013-02-25 | 9 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Super-G Standing | Final Round | 2014-03-09 | 9999 | |
| Men's Slalom Standing | Final Round | 2014-03-13 | 7 | |
| Men's Super Combined Standing | Final Round | 2014-03-14 | 4 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Downhill Standing | Race 1 | 2015-03-04 | 9999 | |
| Men's Super-Combined Standing | Race 1 | 2015-03-07 | 6 | |
| Men's Giant Slalom Standing | Race 1 | 2015-03-08 | 19 | |
| Men's Slalom Standing | Race 1 | 2015-03-10 | 9999 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Downhill Standing | Race 1 | 2017-01-25 | 11 | |
| Men's Super-G Standing | Race 1 | 2017-01-26 | 15 | |
| Men's Super-Combined Standing | Race 1 | 2017-01-28 | 9 | |
| Men's Slalom Standing | Race 1 | 2017-01-31 | 3 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Downhill Standing | Final | 2018-03-10 | 5 | |
| Men's Super-G Standing | Final | 2018-03-11 | 10 | |
| Men's Super Combined Standing | Final | 2018-03-13 | 3 | |
| Men's Slalom Standing | Final | 2018-03-17 | 1 |