Paralympic Skiing Guides

[boxtops]

How does this work? I've just seen on the news a girl with very limited vision winning the silver medal for skiing, with her guide leading the way. This means her guide must surely be able to ski at Olympic level as a non-disabled person (but presumably doesn't ski herself in the Olympics). The guide doesn't get any award. Am I missing something?

[carrust]

The guide doesn't get an award when they help blind sprinters in the summer olympics

[boxtops]

I've not seen that, carrust.

[campbellking]

Not sure that the guide won't also get something as they changed the rules recently at the Summer Paralympics so that the guide also gets a medal.

[Maydup]

The guide is obviously a good skier, but not necessary to main Olympic level. These times don't match those of the main games.

[boxtops]

whoever they are, it's a very selfless pastime, to support the less able atheletes.

[campbellking]

Have checked the oracle of info Wikipedia. Summer paralympic rules changed in 2012 to enable guides assisting runners to receive medals.
Skiers may change guides in the duration of an event (i.e. if more than 1 run is needed), a guide is eligible for a medal only if they have been used for the duration of the discipline.

[boxtops]

Interesting - thank you.

[Baldric]

The sighted guides are such a close and essential part of the competition, that the athlete with a visual impairment and the guide are considered a team, and both athletes are medal candidates.[1] wikipedia

[boxtops]

Thanks all - I know I could have googled it, but I knew you'd know :-)