History-making medallist Jessica set for hero’s return mission accomplished

Kim Waters
Geelong’s Jessica Gallagher will return to a hero’s welcome next week after her medal win in Canada’s Winter Paralympics.
The 24-year-old made history as Australia’s first woman to win a medal at the Winter Paralympics, claiming bronze in the vision impaired slalom.
“My mum has been over here with me but dad and my brother are at home, so I can’t wait to see them,” Ms Gallagher told the Independent over the phone from Vancouver this week.
“I think there will be quite a few parties and I’ll be going out to celebrate with friends when I get back.”
Ms Gallagher, a newcomer to the sport with one year of skiing experience, described the competition as “crazy”.
“I’ve never skied in any of the conditions we’ve had this week, so it’s been a huge first with the slalom on the ice and then the giant slalom in the slush,” she said.
Ms Gallagher was now “used to” poor vision from a degenerative eye condition but experienced a fright on Tuesday when bad weather left her completely blind.
“When I was skiing in the giant slalom the rain and fog got so bad I couldn’t see at all and I pretty much lost it,” she said.
“In the second run I also lost communication with my guide, so I couldn’t hear his directions and I couldn’t see where I was going.”
Despite placing eighth in her last event this week, Ms Gallagher considered her Paralympic experience a dream come true.
“The day I won the bronze medal was so incredible because it was also my birthday,” she said.
“It’s been a dream of mine to be able to represent Australia at the Paralympics and the moment when I finally got to hold the medal was just so special.”
Ms Gallagher said a chance to compete in the Paralympics “meant the world to her”.
“I was going to compete in the Beijing Paralympics but my eye test results said my vision wasn’t impaired enough for me to qualify.”
“This bronze medal means all the hard work and all the sacrifices have paid off and I’m just so incredibly happy.”