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Ben Tudhope will arrive at the Beijing Winter Paralympics brimming with confidence after winning the prestigious Crystal Globe as the world’s best Para-snowboarder across all disciplines.
Tudhope was awarded the major honour after he competed at the Big White Snowboard Cross World Cup event in Canada, where he claimed his fourth consecutive World Cup gold medal.
The 22-year-old – the youngest of Australia’s 10 Para-athletes for Beijing 2022 – also won the Crystal Globe as the season champion in his SB-LL2 classification.
“I am kind of taken aback and really stoked to win the overall title and it just shows the progression I’ve had this year,” Tudhope said.
“It’s taken a really big effort from everyone on the team to get to where we are today and it shows that our training is paying off and that the competition experience I’m getting is really good, especially heading into Beijing. It has definitely given me a massive confidence boost.”
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Tudhope won a silver medal and a bronze at the Para-snowsports World Championships in Lillehammer, Norway in January, and two gold medals at the Klövsjö World Cups in Sweden two weeks ago.
He is the world’s No.1-ranked snowboarder in his class and will look to convert that form into his first Paralympic medal at his third Games. Tudhope will now return to Ruka, Finland for his final preparations for Beijing.
“I’m fortunate to represent my country in doing the thing I love most, so it’ll be an absolute honour to put on the Paralympic uniform again in China and make Australia proud,” he said.
“I’m always enthusiastic about the Games because it’s the only time in the four-year cycle where our sport becomes the highlight of mainstream media for two weeks, which gives the opportunity for us Para-athletes to create a platform to inspire many kids and people around Australia.
“I’m looking forward to getting to experience a Paralympic Games again for what they are and to use my prior knowledge of being at the Games to excel my performance.
“China will put on an amazing show. Para-snowboarding has come a long way from Sochi [2014] and even Korea [PyeongChang 2018], so I think people watching will truly be mesmerised about the performances of all athletes because we will definitely put on a show!”
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By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 14 February 2022
Image: Snow Australia
