Nationality Australia Disability class SB-LL Sport Para-snowboarding | Country Australia Height 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) Name Ben Tudhope | |
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Born 13 December 1999 (age 24) ( 1999-12-13 ) St Leonards, New South Wales Profiles | ||
Ben tudhope 3rd run men s para snowboard cross alpine skiing sochi 2014 paralympics
Ben Tudhope (born 13 December 1999) is an Australian Paralympian who competed in para-snowboard cross at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi. His selection at the age of 14 meant that he became Australia's youngest Winter Paralympian, replacing Michael Milton. He was the youngest competitor at the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games from any country.
Contents
- Ben tudhope 3rd run men s para snowboard cross alpine skiing sochi 2014 paralympics
- Ben tudhope paralympic snowboarder
- Personal
- Career
- References
Ben tudhope paralympic snowboarder
Personal
Ben Tudhope was born with cerebral palsy due to a lack of oxygen to the brain during his birth and damage caused to the white matter in his brain, which caused hemiplegia on the left side of his body and damage connecting nerve tissue vital for movement He lives in Manly, a suburb of Sydney, and attends Shore Grammar School SCEGS.
Career
Tudhope's older sister Annabel introduced him to snowboarding in 2009. Annabel has competed on the World Snowboard Tour, and his other sister Phoebe has competed for Australia in mogul skiing. His Winter Paralympics path began in 2011 when Peter Baff, the head coach of Perisher's Winter Sports Club alerted Peter Higgins, Australia's Paralympic snowboard team head coach, of his ability even though he was not tall.
In 2014, Tudhope was 150 centimetres (4 ft 11 in) tall, and his French-made snowboard is 141 centimetres (56 in) long. Ben competed in the 2013 European Cup to qualify for the 2014 Winter Paralympics. Due to his age, his mother Melissa has accompanied him to overseas competitions. He trains at Perisher Ski Resort, and undertakes dryland training at Monster Skatepark in the Sydney suburb of Homebush. In 2013, he was an Amelia McGuiness Australian Snowsports Development Foundation scholarship holder.
Tudhope's selection for the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi at the age of 14 meant that he became Australia's youngest Winter Paralympian, replacing Mitchell Gourley. He was the youngest competitor at the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games from any country. He finished 10th out of 33 competitors in the Men's Para-snowboard Cross, and was chosen to carry the Australian flag at the closing ceremony.
