James Whitley (alpine skier)

James Whitley (born 17 November 1997) is a British alpine skier, who competes in the slalom and giant slalom events. A promising junior skier, Whitley qualified to represent Great Britain's team at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi for his debut Paralympics.

Personal history

Whitley was born on 17 November 1997^[1] to Tara Chichester-Clark, daughter of James Chichester-Clark, the former Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.^[2][3][4] Whitley was born without both hands and despite multiple operations, fingers constructed for both his limbs have failed to gain enough nerve or muscle function.^[5] He attended St. Bede's Preparatory School before going to Millfield School, a boarding school in Somerset, England.

Skiing career

Whitley began skiing at the age of four years^[6] while with his family at Courchevel, France. He showed promise as a youth and was offered a place on the British Disabled Ski Team (BDST) becoming World Cup qualified in the slalom and giant slalom,^[2] starting to race with "the British guys" when he was 11.^[6] In 2012 he came second in the giant slalom and third in slalom at the Italian National Championships, his first senior medals. In 2013 Whitley entered the 2013 IPC Skiing World Championships in La Molina, where he finished 11th in the slalom.^[2]

In early 2014 it was announced that he had qualified for the Great Britain team that would be competing at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, competing in the standing events.^[7] This made him the only standing skier competing for ParalympicsGB.^[4] The 2014 Winter Paralympics was Whitley's debut Paralympics; he competed in the slalom on 13 March 2014, and giant slalom on the 15 March.^[8]

References