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13419-Stephani Victor photo

Stephani Victor

Swiss flag
Switzerland
Alpine Skiing
2
2
1

Biography

Impairment information

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency
Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Classification
LW12-2

Further personal information

Family
Husband Marcel Kuonen
Residence
Switzerland
Occupation
Athlete, Motivational Speaker
Languages
English, German
Higher education
Film - University of Southern California: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Sport specific information

When and where did you begin this sport?
She first took part in the sport in 1999 in Park City, UT, United States of America.
Why this sport?
"I found the two loves of my life on the same day - my coach who became my husband, Marcel Kuonen, and adaptive ski racing."
Name of coach
Gregory Chambaz [national]; Marcel Kuonen [husband]
Training Regime
She trains in Saas Fee, Switzerland.

International debut

Year
2001
Competing for
United States
Tournament
World Cup
Location
Snowbasin, UT, USA

General interest

Nicknames
Hollywood (Athlete, 04 Jan 2011)
Injuries
She crashed during the super G at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi and was airlifted from the slopes with a fractured cheekbone and four broken teeth. She also required stitches for facial injuries and had reconstructive surgery on her lip, having bitten through it. (nytimes.com, 10 Mar 2018; sltrib.com, 12 Mar 2014)

An injury to her adductor muscle and femur meant she was unable to race in 2011 and most of 2012. She returned to competition in 2013. (teamusa.org, 15 Oct 2013)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"It really doesn't matter how much you weigh, where you work, how many kids you have, what you look like or how many medals you've won. What really matters is how authentically you live your values, serve your fellow human beings, rise up from life's challenges, pain and disappointment. The moment is now, to wake up and become more of who you truly are." (IPC, 10 Feb 2018)
Awards and honours
She was named the 2009 Paralympic Sportswoman of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee [USOC]. (skiracing.com, 22 Jan 2010)

She was named Adaptive Athlete of the Year by Ski Racing Magazine in 2007 and 2009. (teamusa.org, Mar 2014)

She took part in the torch relay ahead of the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. (teamusa.org, Mar 2014)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2019 World Championships in Slovenia and Italy. (1815.ch, 25 Oct 2018)
Impairment
In 1995 she was standing in front of a house with a friend when an out-of-control car veered into the driveway and pinned her against another vehicle. Both of her legs were amputated, and she required 12 reconstructive operations. (argonautnews.com, 23 Mar 2016; teamusa.org, Mar 2014; Athlete, 04 Jan 2011)
Other information
REPRESENTING SWITZERLAND
After representing the United States of America at four editions of the Paralympic Winter Games, she gained Swiss citizenship in 2017 and announced her intention to compete for Switzerland. "For me, the receipt of the Swiss passport has made a dream come true. I will start for Switzerland in the future. This beautiful country has become my second home. This is the perfect opportunity to thank my long-time Swiss coach and husband Marcel Kuonen." (rro.ch, 09 Oct 2017; luzernerzeitung.ch, 24 Sep 2017)

RETIREMENT AND COMEBACK
She retired from the sport following a crash at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, but announced her return to competition in 2016. (luzernerzeitung.ch, 24 Sep 2017)

Results

Unit Date Rank
Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympic Winter Games (Salt Lake City, United States of America)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Women's Slalom LW10-12 Final Round 9999
Women's Downhill LW10-12 Final Round 3
Women's Super-G LW10-12 Final Round 6
Women's Giant Slalom LW12 Final Round 9999
Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games (Vancouver, Canada)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Women's Slalom Sitting Final Round 2
Women's Giant Slalom Sitting Final Round 2
Women's Super Combined Sitting Final Round 1
Women's Super-G Sitting Final Round 5
Women's Downhill Sitting Final Round 4
Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games (Torino, Italy)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Women's Slalom Sitting Final Round 1
Women's Giant Slalom Sitting Final Round 4
Women's Super-G Sitting Final Round 4
Women's Downhill Sitting Final Round 5
IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships (Kangwonland, South Korea)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Women's Slalom Sitting Final 2009-02-20 1
Women's Giant Slalom Sitting Final 2009-02-21 1
Women's Super-G Sitting Final 2009-02-23 1
Women's Super-Combined Sitting Final 2009-02-23 1
Women's Super-G Sitting Run 2 2009-02-24 2
IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships (La Molina, Spain)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Women's Downhill Sitting Race 1 2013-02-20 9999
Women's Super-G Sitting Race 1 2013-02-21 4
Women's Slalom Sitting Race 1 2013-02-24 5
Women's Super-Combined Sitting Race 1 2013-02-25 6
Women's Giant Slalom Sitting Race 1 2013-02-26 5
Paralympic Winter Games 2014 (Sochi, Russia)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Women's Super-G Sitting Final Round 2014-03-10 9999
Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games (Pyeongchang, South Korea)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Women's Downhill Sitting Final 2018-03-10 9999
Women's Super-G Sitting Final 2018-03-11 6
Women's Super Combined Sitting Final 2018-03-13 9999
Women's Giant Slalom Sitting Final 2018-03-14 4
Women's Slalom Sitting Final 2018-03-18 9999