Russell Docker
Encyclopedia
Russell Docker is a British Paralympic skier. Docker was paralysed from the chest down after he broke two vertebrae in his back in a five metre fall while on a skiing holiday in 1995. He has competed at three Winter Paralympic Games
, his best finish was a 23rd place in 2006.
, Dorset and attended school in Blandford. He trained as an electrician for three years, then as a ceramic tiler before running his own business for five years. He took up skiing at the age of 18 years. In 1995 whilst skiing in Avoriaz
, France he was walking across a bridge when the snow collapsed, causing him to fall five meters. He broke two vertebrae in his back, causing damage to his spinal cord which left him paralysed. Following his accident Docker took up skiing again using a sit-ski, also known as a mono-ski, which features a chair mounted on a single ski, with two short crutches for support.
held in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States where he was one of two British athletes to compete. He participated in four events in the LW12 classification but crashed out in the downhill event and failed to complete his other three races. Docker was selected for his second Paralympics in 2006
; he again competed in four events and achieved a highest finish of 23rd in the Super-G.
Docker's preparations for the 2010 Winter Paralympics
in Vancouver were hindered by both the financial problems and eventual collapse of governing body SnowsportGB in the run up to the Games and a hairline fracture in his foot, which he suffered after dropping a medicine ball on it in training. At the Games he was disqualified in the downhill and failed to finish in the slalom and giant slalom following falls. The only race he completed was Super-G, where he placed 29th.
and finished 15th in Super-Combined in Whistler
. Docker won a bronze medal in the Super-G at the 2009 European Cup Final in Jasna
, Slovakia.
Winter Paralympic Games
The Winter Paralympic Games is an international multi-sport event where athletes with physical disabilities compete. This includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. The Winter Paralympic Games are held every four years directly following the Winter...
, his best finish was a 23rd place in 2006.
Early life and accident
Docker was born in PoolePoole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
, Dorset and attended school in Blandford. He trained as an electrician for three years, then as a ceramic tiler before running his own business for five years. He took up skiing at the age of 18 years. In 1995 whilst skiing in Avoriaz
Avoriaz
Avoriaz is a French mountain resort in the heart of the Portes du Soleil. It is located in the territory of the commune of Morzine. It is easily accessible from either Thonon at Lake Geneva or Cluses-junction on the A40 motorway between Geneva and Chamonix...
, France he was walking across a bridge when the snow collapsed, causing him to fall five meters. He broke two vertebrae in his back, causing damage to his spinal cord which left him paralysed. Following his accident Docker took up skiing again using a sit-ski, also known as a mono-ski, which features a chair mounted on a single ski, with two short crutches for support.
Paralympics
His first Paralympic appearance came at the 2002 Winter Paralympics2002 Winter Paralympics
The 2002 Winter Paralympics, the eighth Winter Paralympics, were held in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, from March 7 to March 16, 2002. A total of 416 athletes from 36 nations participated....
held in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States where he was one of two British athletes to compete. He participated in four events in the LW12 classification but crashed out in the downhill event and failed to complete his other three races. Docker was selected for his second Paralympics in 2006
2006 Winter Paralympics
The 2006 Winter Paralympic Games, the ninth Winter Paralympics, took place in Turin, Italy from 10 to 19 March 2006. These were the first Winter Paralympic Games to be held in Italy. They were also the first Paralympics to use the new paralympics logo....
; he again competed in four events and achieved a highest finish of 23rd in the Super-G.
Docker's preparations for the 2010 Winter Paralympics
2010 Winter Paralympics
The 2010 Winter Paralympics, officially the X Paralympic Winter Games, or the 10th Winter Paralympics, were held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada from March 12 to 21, 2010. The Opening Ceremony took place in BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and the Closing Ceremony in Whistler...
in Vancouver were hindered by both the financial problems and eventual collapse of governing body SnowsportGB in the run up to the Games and a hairline fracture in his foot, which he suffered after dropping a medicine ball on it in training. At the Games he was disqualified in the downhill and failed to finish in the slalom and giant slalom following falls. The only race he completed was Super-G, where he placed 29th.
Other events
At the 2004 World Championships Docker finished 6th in downhill, 12th in Super-G and 15th in slalom. A year later he won a gold medal in the Super-G event at the European Cup Final in Austria. In the 2009 World Cup he finished 17th in downhill and 15th in Super-Combined at the event in SestriereSestriere
Sestriere is an alpine village in Italy, a comune of the Province of Turin. It is from the French border. Its name derives from Latin: ad petram sistrariam, that is at sixty Roman miles from Turin....
and finished 15th in Super-Combined in Whistler
Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler is a Canadian resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the province of British Columbia, Canada, approximately north of Vancouver...
. Docker won a bronze medal in the Super-G at the 2009 European Cup Final in Jasna
Jasna
Jasna is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Dzierzgoń, within Sztum County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It lies approximately north of Dzierzgoń, north-east of Sztum, and south-east of the regional capital Gdańsk....
, Slovakia.