HARRY LAIDLAW
Olympic Winter Games Attended
BIOGRAPHY
Harry Laidlaw began skiing when he was two years old at Mount Hotham and moved to the Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont, USA, at the age of 14 to further his skiing pursuits.
Laidlaw competed at the first Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria, in 2012, finishing 17th in the giant slalom. During the 2016-2017 season, Laidlaw competed at his first ever World Championships in St Moritz, Switzerland, but was unable to finishing his run in the super-g. At the PyeongChang 2018 Games, Laidlaw made his Olympic debut in the giant slalom, but was unable to finish his run recording a disqualification after missing a gate. Laidlaw competed at the 2019 World Championships in Are, Sweden, with his best result coming in the super-g, finishing in 37th place. In November 2020, Laidlaw suffered an ACL injury wiping out his northern hemisphere winter. Laidlaw returned to competition in November 2021, but unfortunately missed out on qualification for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Laidlaw moved on quickly from the Games disappointment, to record an impressive three victories on the Nor-Am tour, becoming the first Australian to do so since 2002, when Jono Brauer won a slalom event, and finished the season ranked 31st in the world in giant slalom. In March, Laidlaw finished in 39th in the first run at the World Cup in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, a World Cup personal best. At the opening giant slalom World Cup event of the 2022-2023 season in Soelden, Austria, Laidlaw finished in 42nd place. In January, Laidlaw recorded a personal best World Cup performance in Schladming, Austria, finishing in 37th place in the giant slalom event, His improvement continued, with Laidlaw recording his first ever European Cup podium with a second place finish in early February in Folgaria, Italy, The podium is the first ever Australian giant slalom European Cup medal, and the first of any kind since Jono Brauer finished first in January 2006 competing in slalom. At the 2023 FIS Alpine World Championships in Courchevel Méribel, France, Laidlaw finished in 25th place in the Giant Slalom, his best ever World Championship performance. In the 2023-2024 international season, Laidlaw had an injury interrupted start to his northern hemisphere winter, but started strongly at his first event in Adelboden, Switzerland, where the 2018 Olympian made a successful return to competition, finishing in 38th place in the World Cup giant slalom race. The result is just one place behind his best World Cup finish of 37th which he achieved in January 2023 in Schladming, Austria. In February, Laidlaw became the first Australian male to reach the top-30 at the World Cup level in the giant slalom in Bankso, Bulgaria. Laidlaw finished the first run in impressive fashion to place 24th in a time of 1:12.99 seconds. In making the top-30 qualifying level, the 27yo earnt himself a second run in the event, becoming the first Australian male to achieve this feat at World Cup level in a giant slalom race. In the second run, Laidlaw showed great technical skill and speed and appeared set to be the first Australian to claim World Cup ranking points in the giant slalom, but unfortunately crashed out in the final sector of the course. “Whenever I push out of the start gate, I push to be competitive and this culture has been ingrained in us within this special team at Global Racing. “It hurts not putting two runs together but proud to have pushed the way I did. “More to come and grateful to be racing." Laidlaw also finished in 36th place at the giant slalom World Cup at the Palisades resort in Lake Tahoe, USA, and a week later was 33rd in Aspen . Q & AChildhood Ambition: To be in ski movies.
Proudest Moment: 2018 Olympics / moving my world ranking to 31 in the world. I began this sport .... Because I love everything it brings from feeling to travel to such a vast amount of experiences. Participation in other sports: Australian rules, surfing. Favourite overseas competition and why: Sölden Austria. I live in Innsbruck majority of the year so it’s sort of a home race for me and the crowd is berserk. Sports Hero: Bode Miller/ JP Auclair When I am not training/competing I am: Surfing, reading, music and being with friends and family Highest level of education achieved: High school - mid way through a bachelor of paramedicine Sponsors: Whispir, TeskaCaraon, Mount Hotham race club, Snow performance, Völkl skis, Ziener gloves, Shred optics, Joos energy LINKSOWIA News Search: Additional Links:
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