Sheila Holzworth
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's alpine skiing | ||
Representing the  United States
| ||
| Paralympic Games | ||
 |
1984 Innsbruck | Women's Giant Slalom B1 |
|
1984 Innsbruck | Women's Alpine Combination B1 |
 |
1984 Innsbruck | Women's Downhill B1 |
Sheila Holzworth (August 28, 1961[1][2] – March 29, 2013[3]) was an American para-alpine skier. After going blind at age ten, she went on to win two gold medals and a silver medal at the 1984 Winter Paralympics as part of the United States delegation, among other achievements.
Biography
[edit]In 1981, the International Year of Disabled Persons, Holzworth was the first blind woman to climb Mount Rainier.[4] She completed the climb as part of a team of people with disabilities.[5]
In 1982, she won a gold medal in the giant slalom and silver in the slalom at the national ski competition hosted by the United States Association of Blind Athletes.[4]
Holzworth won gold medals in two alpine skiing events, Women's Giant Slalom B1 and Women's Alpine Combination B1, at the 1984 Winter Paralympics. In addition, she won a silver medal in Women's Downhill B1. She also competed at the 1988 Winter Paralympics.[6]
She competed and won medals in several other competitions, including the World Cup Championships of Winter Sports for the Disabled in Switzerland and the National Snow Ski Competition and American Blind Water Ski Championships in 1983, and the International Blind Water Ski Competition in Norway in 1984. She also set other records, including a world record in trick water skiing for the blind and disabled in 1989, and being the first sightless person to jump on water skis in the United States.[4]
She won the Ten Outstanding Young Americans award in 1989. She was invited to White House receptions at different times by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Anderson, Shawn (2010). Extra Mile America: Stories of Inspiration, Possibility and Purpose. p. 110. ISBN 9780982097427. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ "Sheila Holzworth (1961 - 2013) - Obituary". www.legacy.com. The Des Moines Register. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ Quinn, Rachel Vogel (February 23, 2013). "Climb to the Clouds". Civitas: A Journal of the Central College Community. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ a b c Glover, Penny (February 4, 1992). "Woman doesn't let blindness blocker her". NWI.com. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ Pieper, Mary (November 20, 2003). "Making things happen". Globe Gazette. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ "Sheila Holzworth". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ "Featured: Former sightless athlete Holzworth recognized for Forever Dutch gift". Central College News. November 7, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
External links
[edit]
- American female alpine skiers
- Alpine skiers at the 1984 Winter Paralympics
- Paralympic silver medalists for the United States
- Paralympic alpine skiers for the United States
- Medalists at the 1984 Winter Paralympics
- Paralympic medalists in alpine skiing
- 1961 births
- 2013 deaths
- 20th-century American sportswomen