Diana Golden (skier)
Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Diana Golden Brosnihan |
Born | Lincoln, Massachusetts, U.S. | March 20, 1963
Died | August 25, 2001 Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | (aged 38)
Occupation | Alpine skier |
Skiing career | |
Disciplines | Giant Slalom, Slalom, Downhill and Combined |
Retired | 1990 |
Olympics | |
Teams | 1988 |
Medals | (Disabled Giant Slalom gold) |
Diana Golden Brosnihan (
Early life
Diana Golden grew up in
Following the surgery the first question Golden asked was whether she would be able to ski again and was relieved to discover that she would be able to.[4] After being fitted with a prosthetic device she learned to walk and then ski again within six or seven months with the help of the New England Handicapped Sportsmen's Association.[6][7] In her junior year at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School she became a member of the ski team and by the age of 17 had joined the United States Disabled Ski Team (USDST).[4][8]
After high school, Golden went to
Skiing career
Within a year of taking up skiing again, Golden had won four gold medals internationally, including three in the 1986 World Disabled Championships.[4][6] She was dominant in the United States Disabled Alpine Championships winning all four of the giant slalom, slalom, downhill and combined disciplines in both 1987, and 1988.[6] Also in 1988, Golden won two golds at the World Disabled Championships and most famously won a gold in the giant slalom at the Winter Olympics in Calgary, where the event was a demonstration sport.[8] Golden retired in 1990, but before this would win three gold medals at her last World Disabled Championships in 1990 at Winter Park Resort in Colorado.[4] In total throughout her career Golden won 19 national, 10 World and one Olympic disabled gold medals.[9]
Golden at first used
Golden received a number of awards during her career, including the USSA's Beck Award in 1986 honouring the best female skier in international competition.
Later life
Golden became a motivational speaker following her skiing career, and also took up rock climbing and mountaineering leading to a successful climb of Mount Rainier.[6][8] However, in 1992, at the age of 29, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, for which she had to be treated with bilateral mastectomies.[5] While operating on her, doctors also found a pre-malignant growth and as a result had to remove her uterus.[9] After this, realising she could never have children, Golden became depressed and in 1993, attempted suicide, something which she would consider again.[10]
Golden recovered and resumed motivational speaking but would give this up for good in 1996 when she was again diagnosed with breast cancer, which was treatable but now incurable.
Golden died in August 2001, from the cancer at the age of 38. Following her death, Golden would inspire a race series called the "Diana Golden Race Series", hosted by
After her retirement from skiing Golden continued to be honoured by various organisations. In 1991, the
See also
- Passion for Snow
References
- ^ "Diana Golden". Paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ Araton, Harvey (August 30, 2001). "Sports of The Times; A Champion Slips Away Unnoticed". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
- ^ ISBN 1-57356-120-7.
- ^ a b c Sullivan, Robert (August 31, 2001). "Remembering Diana Golden Brosnihan". Time. Archived from the original on September 9, 2001. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Diana Golden Brosnihan Biography". Disabled Sports USA. Archived from the original on July 30, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
- ^ Vecsey, George (February 8, 1991). "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Ski Star: 'The Gap Got Closer'". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Litsky, Frank (August 28, 2001). "Diana Golden Brosnihan, Skier, Dies at 38". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
- ^ a b "For People Skiing With Disabilities, Diana Golden Race Series Offers Inspiration and Encouragement". First Tracks. Archived from the original on February 14, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
- ^ Araton, Harvey (October 14, 1997). "Sports of The Times; A Pure Athlete Knows No Barriers". The New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
- ^ a b "Diana Golden Opportunity Fund - Disabled Sport USA website". Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- ^ "Diana Golden Race Series". Adaptive Sports Foundation. Retrieved July 7, 2009.[permanent dead link]
External links
- Diana Golden at the International Paralympic Committee
- Diana Golden at the Team USA Hall of Fame (archive July 20, 2023)
- Diana Golden at Olympedia