Alana NICHOLS (USA)
United States
Age:
41 years
Federation:
AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION (ACA)
Biography
Further Personal Information
PLACE OF RESIDENCE
San Diego, CA
HIGHER EDUCATION
Education, Psychology - University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
WHEN/WHERE DID YOU START CANOEING/ KAYAKING?
She took up Para canoe sprint in late 2014
REASON FOR TAKING UP THE SPORT
After crashing during the alpine skiing super-G sitting event at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi she decided it was unfair on her family to continue competing in a sport with the risks of skiing. She took up adaptive surfing, and as that sport is not on the Paralympic programme, also began Para canoe sprint.
HOBBIES
Going out for coffee with friends, surfing
MEMORABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
CANOE SPRINT
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships | ||||
| 8 | KL2 | 2016 | Duisburg, GER | 1:00.647 |
| 9 | KL2 | 2015 | Milan, ITA | 1:00.541 |
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 1 | Women's | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | |
| 4 | Women's | 2012 | London, GBR | |
| World Championships | ||||
| 2 | Women's | 2006 | Amsterdam, NED | |
HERO/IDOL
US wheelchair basketball player Patti Cisneros, US surfer Kelly Slater
SPORTING PHILOSOPHY/ MOTTO
"Do the best you can with what you have."
AMBITIONS
To compete in surfing at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris
OTHER INFORMATION
Classification
LW11 (SportsDeskOnline, 15 Sep 2016)
Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries (universalsports.com, 05 Mar 2010)
Origin of Impairment
Acquired (universalsports.com, 05 Mar 2010)
Impairment Details
In 2000 at age 17, she was snowboarding with friends in Colorado, United States of America, and decided to try a back flip. She over-rotated and landed back-first on a rock, resulting in paraplegia. (universalsports.com, 05 Mar 2010)
Awards
In 2011 she was named Sportswoman of the Year in Colorado, United States of America. (denverpost.com, 13 Mar 2011)
She was named 2010 Paralympic Sportswoman of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee [USOC]. (skiracing.com, 25 Jan 2011)
General
NATIONAL FIRST
She was the first female representing United States of America to win a gold medal at both the Paralympic Games and Paralympic Winter Games. She won a gold medal in wheelchair basketball at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, and in alpine skiing [giant slalom sitting and downhill sitting] at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. (teamusa.org, 31 May 2016; SportsDeskOnline, 21 Mar 2010)
ADAPTIVE SURFING
She is aiming to raise the profile of adaptive surfing and help get it added to the sports programme of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. "I'm focused on helping surfing's governing bodies figure out adaptive surfing for themselves and helping others get out there in the surf. My M.O. is to raise as much awareness for adaptive surfing as I can. That way, when the time comes to choose the sports for 2024, we'll be ready as a sport." (grindtv.com, 21 Nov 2016)
OTHER STUDIES
She studied a master's degree in kinesiology at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL, United States of America. (teamusa.org, May 2016)
LW11 (SportsDeskOnline, 15 Sep 2016)
Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries (universalsports.com, 05 Mar 2010)
Origin of Impairment
Acquired (universalsports.com, 05 Mar 2010)
Impairment Details
In 2000 at age 17, she was snowboarding with friends in Colorado, United States of America, and decided to try a back flip. She over-rotated and landed back-first on a rock, resulting in paraplegia. (universalsports.com, 05 Mar 2010)
Awards
In 2011 she was named Sportswoman of the Year in Colorado, United States of America. (denverpost.com, 13 Mar 2011)
She was named 2010 Paralympic Sportswoman of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee [USOC]. (skiracing.com, 25 Jan 2011)
General
NATIONAL FIRST
She was the first female representing United States of America to win a gold medal at both the Paralympic Games and Paralympic Winter Games. She won a gold medal in wheelchair basketball at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, and in alpine skiing [giant slalom sitting and downhill sitting] at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. (teamusa.org, 31 May 2016; SportsDeskOnline, 21 Mar 2010)
ADAPTIVE SURFING
She is aiming to raise the profile of adaptive surfing and help get it added to the sports programme of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. "I'm focused on helping surfing's governing bodies figure out adaptive surfing for themselves and helping others get out there in the surf. My M.O. is to raise as much awareness for adaptive surfing as I can. That way, when the time comes to choose the sports for 2024, we'll be ready as a sport." (grindtv.com, 21 Nov 2016)
OTHER STUDIES
She studied a master's degree in kinesiology at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL, United States of America. (teamusa.org, May 2016)
OTHER SPORTS
She won a gold medal in wheelchair basketball at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, and in alpine skiing [giant slalom sitting and downhill sitting] at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. She also competed in adaptive surfing at the 2015 World Championships in San Diego, CA, United States of America.
