Alana Nichols
Alana Nichols is the first U.S. female Paralympian to win gold medals at a Summer and Winter Paralympic Games.
She is a three-sport phenomenon in wheelchair basketball, alpine skiing and Para Surfing Waveski. She grew up in Farmington, N.M., and was an avid snowboarder throughout her youth.
In 2002, Nichols landed back-first on a rock while attempting a backflip on her snowboard. The injury caused her to be paralyzed from the waist down.
Nichols didn’t let her athletic career stop there, as she began playing wheelchair basketball just two years later and helping Team USA to win gold at the Paralympic Games Beijing 2008.
She helped Team USA win team gold in the 2018 and 2021 ISA World Para Surfing Championship, and is often competing against an all-male field.
“Once I became an athlete I came into my own and discovered my true self; that’s the power of sports — it can teach you, inspire you, and challenge you to do and be your best no matter who you are, no matter what your capability is,” Alana said.
She is a three-sport phenomenon in wheelchair basketball, alpine skiing and Para Surfing Waveski. She grew up in Farmington, N.M., and was an avid snowboarder throughout her youth.
In 2002, Nichols landed back-first on a rock while attempting a backflip on her snowboard. The injury caused her to be paralyzed from the waist down.
Nichols didn’t let her athletic career stop there, as she began playing wheelchair basketball just two years later and helping Team USA to win gold at the Paralympic Games Beijing 2008.
She helped Team USA win team gold in the 2018 and 2021 ISA World Para Surfing Championship, and is often competing against an all-male field.
“Once I became an athlete I came into my own and discovered my true self; that’s the power of sports — it can teach you, inspire you, and challenge you to do and be your best no matter who you are, no matter what your capability is,” Alana said.
