IN his third Paralympic campaign, Camperdown’s Cameron Rahles-Rahbula defied injuries and a history of disappointment to win his first medal yesterday.
Despite a swag of World Cup and World Championship podium finishes, the physiotherapist had never won a Paralympic medal in two previous attempts.
And having battled debilitating shoulder, back and neck injuries last year that left him bed-ridden for months on end, Rahles-Rahbula’s family feared the 26-year-old would never ski again.
But he cast aside all his demons yesterday to take bronze in the men’s standing Slalom, claiming Australia’s second medal at Vancouver’s Paralympic Winter Games.
''It’s been a long time in the waiting,’’ Rahles-Rahbula said.
''My first Games I was there for experience and the last one was a bit disappointing, because I came in as one of the favourites.
“It’s a huge feeling of validation for the hard work I have done over the past nine years. It’s such a great feeling.”
In front of members of his family and girlfriend Emily Jansen, Rahles-Rahbula posted two classy runs in challenging conditions at Whistler Creekside.
“I thought my (first) run wasn’t bad but it’s a challenging hill for one-leggers.
“I think literally that last lunge at the finish line was what got me over the line,’’ he said.
“I really battled it out in the two runs but it was never going to be easy.
“That is what ski racing is all about.”
New Zealand’s Adam Hall claimed the gold medal and German star Gerd Schoenfelder silver.
Rahles-Rahbula was a rising talent when selected for the 2002 Salt Lake Paralympics and a world champion in Super-G, plus a silver medallist in Slalom, when he headed into the 2006 Turin Paralympics.
But in four races in Turin, Rahles-Rahbula only finished one, finishing 14th in Slalom.
Jansen, who in Turin became Australia’s first female competitor at a winter Paralympics, was in the stands to see her boyfriend grab his first Paralympic medal.
‘‘The monkey’s off his back. It’s unreal for him,’’ she said.
His teammate Toby Kane, who was one of five Australians competing in the standing class, spoke of the satisfaction felt by the 12-member Alpine team in Vancouver.
‘‘We’re all so pleased for Cam. He deserved that more than anyone,’’ said Kane, who finished 11th.
“He deserved it in Turin. He was skiing well enough to medal in Turin but that’s the nature of our sport.
He deserved this four years ago and deserves it even more now.’’
The bronze also sets up Rahles-Rahbula for his coming events: Super-G tomorrow (AEDT), Downhill on Friday, Super-G on Sunday and Super-Combined on Monday.
‘‘These next four events are definitely not my weakest events either,” he said.
“I do love slalom but I’ve got opportunities to get some good results. We’ll just go away tomorrow and do some training and just enjoy it. The most important thing is I don’t get too carried away and start looking ahead too much.’’
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