Peterson added to 2022 Paralympic Games roster
by Kristen Gowdy
Sydney Peterson competes at the World Para Snow Sports World Championships in Lillehammer, Norway. (Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing today announced that Sydney Peterson (Lake Elmo, Minnesota), who won three medals in women’s standing competition at the recent Lillehammer 2021 Para Snow Sports World Championships, was added to the Team USA roster for the Winter Paralympic Games Beijing 2022. Peterson was invited to compete in the Games via the Bipartite Commission Invitation Allocation by World Para Nordic Skiing (WPNS) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
Per the IPC’s guidebook to Games qualification for Para Nordic Skiing, the organization works with international federations to determine allocations for bipartite slots across all competing countries. Peterson was invited by name following the consideration process, following her success in Lillehammer, which was just her second international Para competition.
Because Peterson, who competes in Nordic skiing at St. Lawrence University, is so new to adaptive sport, she had not held an WPNS license long enough to be eligible for traditional Games qualification.
“I am so thrilled to be able to announce that our team is finally complete,” Eileen Carey, director of U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing, said. “We knew Sydney had the strongest possible application for a Bipartite invitation, and we are so excited to have that validated today. She added so much to our team at world championships in Lillehammer and will be an integral part of our team in Beijing.”
A sophomore on the St. Lawrence University Nordic team, Peterson is set for her Paralympic debut in just under a month. She only recently discovered Para Nordic skiing after a physical therapist in Minnesota told U.S. development coach BethAnn Chamberlain about her. Peterson raced in one world cup event for Team USA this season before being selected as one of seven American athletes to compete in Lillehammer. She collected two silvers and a bronze in her world championship debut.
U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing previously announced the other 14 athletes named to its 2022 Paralympic Team. The 2022 Paralympic Games will begin on March 4, with Para Nordic competition kicking off March 5.
For media requests and photo inquiries, please contact Kristen Gowdy at Kristen.Gowdy@usopc.org.