An historic moment, full of anticipation

Members of the 1980 Australian winter Paralympic Team and supporters pose before the start of the Geilo Paralympic Winter Games as is traditional – with their skis. Left to right: Ron Finneran (Chef de Mission), Peter Rickards (vision impaired cross country), Kyrra Grunnsund (cross country and alpine skiing), with J. Rickards and Kjell Blongvist, neither of whom was in the Team. Grunnsund poses with an alpine ski in his right hand and a cross country ski in his left, reflecting his participation in both disciplines. He was the only Australian winter athlete to ever compete in both cross county and alpine skiing, as well as – in 1992 – being the only Australian to compete in the winter and summer Paralympics in same year.