BIOGRAPHY

Chris Waddell was a promising young skier at Middlebury College in 1988 when a skiing accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. Determined to get back on the slopes, he began skiing on a monoski roughly one year later. A little more than two years later, Waddell was named to the US Disabled Ski Team. Waddell went on to become the most decorated male skier in Paralympic history, winning twelve medals over four games, and spending a total of 11 years on the US Disabled Ski Team.

In addition to his work with the Paralympics and the International Paralympic Committee, Waddell has found success as a motivational speaker. Waddell speaks to the resilience of the human condition, with topics ranging from leadership to adversity to quality of life.

Waddell has been featured in numerous publications, including Outside Magazine, Skiing, Ski, National Geographic Explorer, and People Magazine who named him one of “The 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.” He has also appeared on Dateline and Oprah.

Athletic Achievements
Skiing

• Four-time Paralympian (Albertville, Lillehammer, Nagano, Salt Lake City)
• 12 Paralympic medals (five gold, five silver, two bronze)
• 6 World Championship medals (3 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
• 5 World Cup wins
• 32 National titles Skier of the year '94, '95, '00

Track and Road Racing

• Three-time Paralympian (Atlanta, Sydney, Athens)
• Silver Medal 200m Sydney Paralympics 2000
• Three World Championship medals (gold 200m and bronze 400m '98: silver 4x400m '94)
• Member 1996 Paralympic Team, Atlanta , Ga (5 events 100, 200, 400, 800, 4x100m)
• US Records 200m, 400m, 800m
• International Events 3 gold, 4 silver
• National Championships (8 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze)