Sean Pollard
Personal information
Nationality Australia
Born (1991-03-22) 22 March 1991
Sport
CountryAustralia
SportPara-snowboarding
Disability classSB-UL
Medal record
Para-snowboard
Representing  Australia
World Para Snowboard Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2019 PyhaMen's Snowboard Cross UL

Sean Pollard (born March 22, 1991) is an Australian Paralympian who represented Australia in para-snowboarding at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.[1]

Personal

On 2 October 2014, Pollard was attacked by two sharks (possibly great whites) whilst surfing at Kelpids Beach, east of Esperance, Western Australia.[2][3] He lost his left arm and right hand whilst fighting off the sharks.[3] Before the attack he was an electrician, keen surfer and former South Bunbury footballer.[3] In March 2015, more than $100,000 was raised by his local community in Bunbury, Western Australia to assist him on his new journey.[4]

Career

It was not until 2015 that Pollard encountered snow for the first time during a holiday in Canada. During the holiday, he tried snowboarding. After returning to Australia, he took part in an Australian Paralympic Committee specialist camp for Para-snowboarders with upper limb impairments.[1] Pollard has mentioned that his previous surfing and skating skils have helped his transition into snowboarding.[5]

In his first international season, he had several top 15 results including a sixth-place finish in the men's Snowboard Cross at the 2017 IPC Snowboard World Cup at Lake Tahoe, United States.[1] At the 2016/17 IPC World Cup Finals in PyeongChang, South Korea, Pollard finished eight in the snow board cross and banked slalom.[1]

At the 2018 Winter Paralympics, he competed in two snowboard events - fifth in the Men's Banked Slalom SB-UL and ninth in the Men's Snowboard Cross SB-UL.[6]

At the 2019 World Para Snowboard Championships, Pyha, Finland, Pollard won the bronze medal in Men's Snowboard Cross UL and finished seventh in the Men's Banked Slalom UL.[7]

Pollard did not compete at the 2022 Winter Paralympics as he decided to remain with his young family in Western Australia due to the States strict COVID travel restrictions.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sean Pollard". Australian Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Wahlquist, Calla (3 October 2014). "Shark attack: Sean Pollard loses arm, both hands in 'feeding frenzy'". Perth Now. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Paddenburg, Trevor (15 February 2015). "Esperance shark attack survivor Sean Pollard recalls how he fought off white pointer". Perth Now. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  4. ↑ Miller, Shanelle (30 March 2015). "More than $100k raised for Bunbury shark attack survivor Sean Pollard". Queensland Country Life. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "Surfer mauled by two sharks prepares for Paralympics". Yahoo7. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Sean Pollard". 2018 Winter Paralympics Official site. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  7. ↑ "SSA Weekend Wrap | 1 April". Ski and Snowboard Australia website. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  8. ↑ Dick, Callum (13 March 2022). "Beijing Paralympics: Disappointing medal haul defended as blame centres on our Covid restrictions". News.com.au. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
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