Meet New Zealand’s Winter Paralympics powerful team of two

A record 17 athletes represented New Zealand at the recently completed Winter Olympics but the focus now shifts to a smaller, elite squad for the Winter Paralympics.

Just two Kiwis will be competing at the Games in Italy, starting on March 7.

While they’re down on numbers they’re certainly not lacking when it comes to success with Adam Hall and Corey Peters boasting an incredible three gold, two silver, and four bronze medals between them.

Hall, a para alpine skier, is the ‘baby’ of the team.

The 38 year-old’s first Winter Paralympics was in 2006 and he's chuffed to still be mixing it with the world’s best.

"Sixth Winter Paralympic Games,” Hall told rova from Italy.

“Would have never have thought I would still be here 20-odd years later. Plus, I still have the ability to be able to do what I enjoy to do and love doing here."

Born with spina bifida, the Dunedin-born athlete began skiing at age six and it wasn’t long before he had success on the world stage, winning gold at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver in the slalom standing discipline.

Eight years later he added another gold in PyeongChang, and also claimed bronze in super combined standing, before securing two more bronze medals at the last Games in Beijing.

Hall doesn’t mind what colour he comes home with from the 2026 event.

"This sport has become so competitive over time and has progressed so much as well that nowadays any color is just as good as a gold medal."

Corey Peters is no stranger to success either.

The 42 year-old alpine skier won gold in downhill sitting at the 2022 Games as well as silver in the Super G sitting to go with a bronze from 2018 and silver in 2014.

With the full set already in his bag, Peters, who sustained a crushed spinal cord at a motocross event in 2009, says he’s going into these Games without much pressure.

“For me, it’s about just going out there and putting down the best run I possibly can,” Peters told rova.

“If that results in a medal, then that's awesome, but as long as I've given it everything, I'll be happy."

Peters was introduced to the sport of sit skiing in 2011 and had instant success, winning gold in the men’s adaptive sit-ski event at the Para snowboard Winter Games at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

Three years later he was a Winter Paralymipcs medalist.

"I think this is probably my 12th year of competing at an international level, so I've been around for a long time," Peters says.

"The depth of the field now is just getting stronger and stronger every year, and the guys are getting younger and more fearless."

So who gets to be flag bearer in a team of two?

"I got the role of being announced as the flag bearer,” Hall said.

“Which is a huge honor and privilege to be able to have that opportunity".