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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Vision impairment
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
B2
Guide
Bobbi Kelly
Further personal information
Languages
English
Higher education
Health Studies, Physiotherapy - Western Sydney University: Australia
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She began skiing at age 13 with Disabled Wintersport Australia in Thredbo, New South Wales.
Why this sport?
She wanted to progress from recreational skiing.
Club / Team
New South Wales Institute of Sport [NSWIS]: Sydney, NSW, AUS
International debut
Year
2009
Competing for
Australia
Location
Copper Mountain, CO, USA
General interest
Nicknames
Mel (IPC, 10 Feb 2018)
Hobbies
Martial arts, reading, coffee. (Instagram profile, 25 Nov 2020; Twitter profile, 01 Jan 2020)
Most influential person in career
Her parents. (smh.com.au, 13 Mar 2018)
Hero / Idol
US mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey. (news.com.au, 08 Mar 2018)
Injuries
She aggravated an old injury in her left knee after crashing at the 2019 World Cup event in Morzine, France. (paralympic.org, 21 Mar 2019)
In January 2010 she fractured her pelvis after falling in a World Cup race in Italy. She recovered in time to compete at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. (Athlete, 21 Jun 2016; theaustralian.com.au, 22 Jan 2010)
She ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] in her knee in 2009. (Athlete, 21 Jun 2016)
In January 2010 she fractured her pelvis after falling in a World Cup race in Italy. She recovered in time to compete at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. (Athlete, 21 Jun 2016; theaustralian.com.au, 22 Jan 2010)
She ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] in her knee in 2009. (Athlete, 21 Jun 2016)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs
She has the same start routine before every race. (Athlete, 21 Jun 2016)
Awards and honours
She was named Female Para Athlete of the Year at the 2019 Australian Institute of Sport [AIS] Sport Performance Awards. (nswis.com.au, 11 Dec 2019)
She was presented with the Para Athlete of the Year award at the 2019 Australian Ski and Snowboard Awards. She was the first female to win the award. (revolutionise.com.au, 01 May 2019)
She was flag bearer for Australia at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (sportaus.gov.au, 18 Sep 2018)
She was presented with the Para Athlete of the Year award at the 2019 Australian Ski and Snowboard Awards. She was the first female to win the award. (revolutionise.com.au, 01 May 2019)
She was flag bearer for Australia at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (sportaus.gov.au, 18 Sep 2018)
Milestones
She became the first female Para alpine skier representing Australia to win a medal at the world championships by claiming silver in downhill at the 2011 edition in Sestriere, Italy. (SportsDeskOnline, 08 Apr 2019; insidethegames.biz, 17 Jan 2011)
Ambitions
To win an overall World Cup title and to win a gold medal at the Paralympic Winter Games. (paralympic.org,au, 01 Oct 2017)
Impairment
She was born with four separate eye conditions, including cataracts, nystagmus, micropthalmia and glaucoma. (Australian Paralympic Team YouTube channel, 18 Jan 2018; Athlete, 21 Jun 2016; theaustralian.com.au, 12 Mar 2010)
Other information
FIGHTER
She has used mixed martial arts as part of her training and has also taken part in a match, beating her able-bodied opponent by submission. "To win, I have to be close enough to see them. I'd be lying to describe it any way but exhilarating." (news.com.au, 08 Mar 2018)
SOCHI DISQUALIFICATION
She was disqualified from the super combined event at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi for competing in the slalom run with a makeshift visor taped to her helmet. The visor was used to shield her eyes from rain and lights used to illuminate the course, after heavy fog had delayed the start of the event. She had previously used the visor at a World Cup event without incident. Australian head coach at the time, Steve Graham, conceded there were no grounds to contest the disqualification, and said the failure to confirm its legality was a "shared mistake" among Perrine, her guide Andrew Bor, and Australian team staff. (smh.com.au, 12 Mar 2014; foxsports.com.au, 12 Mar 2014; abc.net.au, 12 Mar 2014)
FURTHER EDUCATION
She has studied for a master's degree in physiotherapy at Western Sydney University in New South Wales, Australia. She has also studied for a master's degree in exercise science at the University of Sydney. (Athlete, 21 Jun 2016)
She has used mixed martial arts as part of her training and has also taken part in a match, beating her able-bodied opponent by submission. "To win, I have to be close enough to see them. I'd be lying to describe it any way but exhilarating." (news.com.au, 08 Mar 2018)
SOCHI DISQUALIFICATION
She was disqualified from the super combined event at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi for competing in the slalom run with a makeshift visor taped to her helmet. The visor was used to shield her eyes from rain and lights used to illuminate the course, after heavy fog had delayed the start of the event. She had previously used the visor at a World Cup event without incident. Australian head coach at the time, Steve Graham, conceded there were no grounds to contest the disqualification, and said the failure to confirm its legality was a "shared mistake" among Perrine, her guide Andrew Bor, and Australian team staff. (smh.com.au, 12 Mar 2014; foxsports.com.au, 12 Mar 2014; abc.net.au, 12 Mar 2014)
FURTHER EDUCATION
She has studied for a master's degree in physiotherapy at Western Sydney University in New South Wales, Australia. She has also studied for a master's degree in exercise science at the University of Sydney. (Athlete, 21 Jun 2016)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Downhill Visually impaired | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Women's Super-G Visually impaired | Final Round | 7 | ||
| Women's Super Combined Visually impaired | Final Round | 9999 | ||
| Women's Giant Slalom Visually impaired | Final Round | 9999 | ||
| Women's Slalom Visually impaired | Final Round | 8 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Downhill VI | Final | 2011-01-16 | 2 | |
| Women's Super-G VI | Final | 2011-01-18 | 3 | |
| Women's Super-Combined VI | Final | 2011-01-19 | 3 | |
| Women's Slalom VI | Final | 2011-01-20 | 4 | |
| Women's Giant Slalom VI | Final | 2011-01-21 | 4 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Downhill Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-08 | 4 | |
| Women's Super-G Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-10 | 9999 | |
| Women's Slalom Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-12 | 9999 | |
| Women's Super Combined Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-14 | 9999 | |
| Women's Giant Slalom Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-16 | 9999 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Downhill VI | Race 1 | 2015-03-04 | 1 | |
| Women's Super-G VI | Race 1 | 2015-03-05 | 1 | |
| Women's Super-Combined VI | Race 1 | 2015-03-07 | 1 | |
| Women's Giant Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2015-03-08 | 3 | |
| Women's Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2015-03-10 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Downhill Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-10 | 5 | |
| Women's Super-G Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-11 | 5 | |
| Women's Super Combined Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-13 | 3 | |
| Women's Giant Slalom Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-14 | 3 | |
| Women's Slalom Visually Impaired | Final | 2018-03-18 | 4 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Giant Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2019-01-22 | 2 | |
| Women's Slalom VI | Race 1 | 2019-01-24 | 3 | |
| Women's Super-Combined VI | Race 1 | 2019-01-31 | 1 | |
| Women's Super-G VI | Race 1 (from SC) | 2019-01-31 | 2 |