In 2000, Shannon Dallas was working as a carpenter when he fell through a roof and was paralysed. Less than two years later, Shannon took up alpine sit-skiing, and enjoyed a meteoric rise. He represented Australia for the first time in Canada in 2002 and is now aiming to compete in his second Winter Paralympics at the Vancouver Games in 2010.

Shannon describes his first Winter Games in Torino as a disaster. In search of a gold medal in the downhill, Shannon crashed heavily, ruling him out of the event in which he was expected to medal. Later that week, his grandmother passed away and he contracted a violent gastric virus which only added to his horrendous campaign.

While it was not the Paralympic debut he was hoping for, Shannon left the 2006 Games with important competition lessons learnt and is now aiming for a gold medal in the downhill in Vancouver.

His preparation has been nothing short of impressive, highlighted by his dazzling victory in the men’s Super G at the 2009 IPC World Championships in Korea. But, despite a dislocated shoulder hampering the end of his Northern hemisphere season, Australia’s leading alpine sit-skier is confident that he will reach the start line at the Vancouver Games ready to do his country proud.

When he’s not skiing, Shannon plays wheelchair basketball for the Wentworthville Wheelkings and also enjoys watching films. Shannon admires former skier Michael Milton, not only for his sporting achievements but also for being a husband, father and outstanding Australian sporting personality. After skiing, Shannon hopes to establish a Central Coast disabled sporting community centre.