Aussies Secure Improved Results On Day Two Of Para Biathlon

A top 10 finish for Lauren Parker and a top 20 for Dave Miln gave Australia a solid day of skiing and shooting in the 12.5km individual biathlon event at Tesero Cross-Country Stadium on Sunday. 

Parker, with barely six months on snow since transitioning from Para triathlon, and Miln with just 18 months on snow after surviving an horrific accident, showed the potential they have in winter sport with their performances among the elite of the Paralympic world today. 

The third Australian to compete in individual, Taryn Dickens and guide Lynn Maree Cullen, finished 13^th in a field of 13 vision impaired athletes. 

“International Women’s Day, what a day to be racing!” Dickens said, clutching a small bouquet of alpine flowers presented to all competitors by the Milano Cortina organising committee. 

“How good to be a woman? My narrative is all about ‘it doesn’t matter your age, what you look like, how you feel in lycra, or if you have two legs or four – none of it matters,” she said, giving service dog Gigi a warm hug and cuddle as she spoke. 

“Just get out there have fun and smile. We’re all beautiful, strong women. 

“And, I’ve got one of the best of them in my guide (Cullen) who’s with me the whole race and just excited to be out there with me.” 

Miln finished 20th behind gold medallist Zixu Lui of China, in the 27-strong field, missing only three of his 20 shots on target, while showing good speed around five laps of the Tesero course.  

“I’m under 18 months on snow post-accident so I’m still in the very early stages in terms of mastering the craft,” said Miln, who had both legs amputated after he used his body to shield his two young daughters when the trio rounded a bend at a Californian ski resort and met a snow plough. 

The challenge and enjoyment he’s getting from Nordic sport means Miln doesn’t intend stopping at his first Winter Paralympics. He’s after a spot on the Australian Para triathlon team for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games. 

“This is an amazing experience … and the potential for what’s ahead excites me, not only Winter but when I get home, I’ll start to get back into triathlon and look at Summer as well,” he said. 

“I’ll follow Lauren but do it in reverse. It’s a lot of training time between now and then but it would be nice to do triathlon in LA and then come back to another Winter (2030 French Alps) and then maybe another Summer in Brisbane (2032). 

“It’s good to have a focus; to have goals and work towards them.” 

Parker set herself a goal of making a successful switch between Games. She won medals at both the Tokyo and Paris Summer Games and is now at her first Winter Paralympics. 

She finished 9th on Sunday in a field of 12 after shooting 15 from 20 targets – each miss is a minute penalty – so a clean slate would have moved her up into 6th. 

“I put a lot of expectation on myself, I guess. I am disappointed only because I shot better in Canada (World Cup) than here,” Parker said referring to missing only two targets in December last year. 

“I set the bar there and I always want to do better than my previous event. 

“I improved from yesterday (13th 7.5km sprint) and I have to be happy with a top 10 finish at my first Paralympics, less than 12 months on snow and only my second individual biathlon ever. 

“I’m very new, so I can’t be too hard on myself.” 

Parker’s two Paris gold medals (triathlon, road cycling) meant she became the first Australian to stand on top of the dais in two different sports at the same Paralympic Games since Vic Renalson in 1968 (athletics and weightlifting). 

While not willing to claim those heights just yet in Winter sport, she feels improvement in her skiing with every outing. 

Miln also improved his position in the 12.5km event from 26th in the 7.5km yesterday. 

“The best thing for me, off the back of yesterday’s race, was the lessons I learned and put a lot of them into practice today. I basically skied a lot better, shot a lot better,” he said. 

“There’s still more lessons from today – I’ll take those forward to Friday (sprint pursuit).” 

Monday March 9 is a day off for Para Nordic competitors. 

The Australians will return on Tuesday for the first of three Para cross-country events – the sprint. 

Margie McDonald