Laurie Stephens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Laurie Stephens

Stephens at the 2013 World Championships
Personal information
Born	(1984-03-05) March 5, 1984 (age 41) Wenham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height	5 ft 0 in
Weight	119 lb
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Para-alpine skiing
Disability class	LW12-1
Event(s)	Downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super combined, super-G
Medal record Women's para-alpine skiing Representing  United States Winter Paralympics Gold 2006 Turin Downhill, sitting Gold 2006 Turin Super-G, sitting Silver 2006 Turin Giant slalom, sitting Silver 2010 Vancouver Downhill, sitting Bronze 2014 Sochi Downhill, sitting Bronze 2014 Sochi Super-G, sitting Bronze 2018 Pyeongchang Downhill, sitting World Championships Gold 2013 La Molina Downhill, sitting Gold 2021 Lillehammer Giant slalom, sitting Silver 2011 Sestriere Downhill, sitting Silver 2011 Sestriere Super-G, sitting Silver 2023 Lleida Super-G, sitting Silver 2023 Lleida Alpine combined, sitting Silver 2023 Lleida Giant slalom, sitting Bronze 2011 Sestriere Super combined, sitting Bronze 2013 La Molina Super-G, sitting Bronze 2015 Panorama Super combined, sitting Bronze 2019 Sella Nevea Super-G, sitting Bronze 2021 Lillehammer Slalom, sitting

Laurie Stephens (born March 5, 1984) is an amazing athlete from the United States. She is a monoskier who has spina bifida, a condition that affects her spine. Laurie has won many medals for the United States at the Paralympics, which are like the Olympic Games for athletes with disabilities. She has also done very well in the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup competitions.

Laurie's Skiing Journey

Laurie Stephens started skiing when she was 12 years old. She learned to ski at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire. Just three years later, at age 15, she began racing. She joined Chris Devlin-Young's New England Disabled Ski Team.

Laurie competes in five different skiing events:

• Downhill
• Slalom
• Giant slalom
• Super-G
• Super Combined

She has competed in four Paralympic Games and five World Championships. Her first time at the Paralympics was in 2006. After that, she competed in the 2010, 2014, and 2018 games.

Paralympic and World Championship Medals

Laurie has won a total of 7 Paralympic medals:

• 2 gold medals
• 2 silver medals
• 3 bronze medals

She has also earned 7 World Championship medals:

• 2 gold medals
• 3 silver medals
• 3 bronze medals

In 2006, the United States Olympic Committee named Laurie the Paralympic Sportswoman of the Year. This was a huge honor! That same year, she won two gold medals in the Super-G-Sitting and Downhill-Sitting events. She was also nominated for an Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award as the Best Female Athlete with a Disability.

At the 2018 PyeongChang Games, Laurie won a bronze medal for the US in alpine skiing. She used a mono-ski for this event. She also placed well in other events at those games.

In 2021, Laurie won a gold medal in the women's giant slalom sitting event at the 2021 World Para Snow Sports Championships. She continued her success in 2023, winning three silver medals at the 2023 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships in Lleida.

Beyond Skiing: Swimming Achievements

Besides skiing, Laurie Stephens has also competed in Paralympic swimming. She even held two records in swimming! One record was in the 100-meter backstroke, and the other was in the 200-meter backstroke.

Education and Life

Outside of her amazing sports career, Laurie studied therapeutic recreation. She went to the University of New Hampshire for her studies.

More About Laurie

• Laurie Stephens at the International Ski FederationLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 22: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
• Laurie Stephens at U.S. Ski & Snowboard
• Laurie Stephens at the United States Olympic & Paralympic CommitteeLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). (archived 2022-07-11)
• Laurie Stephens at the International Paralympic Committee (also here)