Para Alpine Skier | Australia Para Snowsport Rising Star | Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games Hopeful
From Queensland’s coastline to the steepest slopes in Europe, Georgia Gunew’s meteoric rise in Para alpine skiing has been defined by courage, trust and an unshakeable competitive spirit.
Central to that rise is a partnership built on communication and belief. Racing at full speed in the vision-impaired AS2 category, she has quickly established herself on the World Cup circuit alongside sighted guide Ethan Jackson.
As a Team Partner proudly supporting the next generation of Winter Para athletes, Harvey Norman is backing Georgia as she continues her journey from grassroots towards the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
At-a-Glance
Sport: Para Alpine Skiing (Vision Impaired – AS2)
Disciplines:
- Slalom AS2
- Giant Slalom AS2
- Super-G AS2
- Downhill AS2 (in training pipeline)
Paralympic Games:
- Milano Cortina 2026 hopeful
Career Highlights and Achievements:
- First World Cup podium – Slalom, Veysonnaz (2023-24 season)
- Two World Cup bronze medals – Slalom and Giant Slalom, Veysonnaz (2024-25 season)
- Ranked inside the top 10 – Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super-G (Visually Impaired World Cup standings, 2024)
- Snow Australia Female Para-Alpine Athlete of the Year – 2024, 2025
From the hockey field to the ski slopes
Georgia Gunew grew up in Brisbane, splitting her time between school, sport and annual family trips to the snow. While skiing was something she returned to each winter, her competitiveness was firmly focused on the hockey field, where discipline and drive shaped her early sporting identity.
As her vision started to deteriorate at age 10 due to the genetic condition Stargardt’s macular dystrophy , the fast-moving nature of the game she loved became increasingly difficult to manage.
By her mid-teens, Georgia was forced to rethink her future. Searching for a new outlet, a timely nudge from her grandmother, who saw an ad for Snow Australia, opened the door to Para alpine skiing with a guide. It clicked almost immediately.
What began as a simple suggestion would go on to change the direction of her life.
Learning to race – and unlearn old habits
While Georgia had skied recreationally from a young age, Para alpine racing demanded an entirely different approach. It required precision, discipline and a willingness to strip back habits built over years on the slopes.
After making her Australian debut in 2020, early progress was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. With limited racing opportunities, momentum stalled just as it was beginning to build.
When competition returned, Georgia was ready. Included in the national Para alpine program in 2023, her development accelerated. More time in-gate, increased exposure to international racing and a growing confidence in herself followed – opening the door to the world stage.
The Georgia-Ethan system
Georgia races with sighted guide Ethan Jackson, a former national junior skier. Acting as her eyes, Ethan skis just metres ahead, communicating each turn and change in terrain through their helmet headsets.
At speeds approaching 100 kilometres per hour, there’s no room for hesitation. Every move relies on communication, trust and an unwavering belief in the system they’ve built together.
When asked about the pair, Para alpine coach Ali Bombardier said they “bring that good energy to the team”, noting that “the trust they both have to have to get down the hill is paramount.”
Source: ABC, 2025
Breaking through on the world stage
Georgia’s rise on the World Cup circuit has been swift. Just 16 months after joining the Australian Para Alpine Team, she claimed her first World Cup podium finish – bronze in slalom at Veysonnaz, Switzerland.
The result marked a breakthrough in only her second international season. She carried that momentum into the 2024-25 campaign, saving her strongest performances for the final World Cup stop of the year. Returning to Veysonnaz, Georgia added two more bronze medals in slalom and giant slalom.
By the season’s end, she had settled into a rhythm, with top 10 finishes in slalom, giant slalom and super-G in the visually impaired category, reflecting her ability to perform consistently at the highest level.
Pressure, perspective and progress
At the elite level, Para alpine racing is decided in moments. Months of preparation come down to a single run, demanding calm, clarity and the ability to perform when it counts. Learning to sit comfortably in that pressure has been a defining part of Georgia’s growth as an athlete.
So too has been trusting the process. In a sport where opportunities can be limited and progress isn’t always linear, each run becomes a chance to test what’s working, adjust what isn’t and keep moving forward.
Rather than chasing perfection, Georgia focuses on consistency, with a growth mindset that’s best summed up by her favourite mantra: If you’re not winning, you’re learning.
Source: Georgia Gunew Paralympic profile
Recognition and what lies ahead
Still so early in her career, Georgia has carved out a place among Australia’s most promising Para alpine skiers. Her performances have earned significant recognition within Australian snowsport, including being named Snow Australia’s Female Para-Alpine Athlete of the Year in 2024 – an honour she and Ethan successfully defended in 2025.
Her next goal? Earning selection for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. “It’s what we’ve been working towards the last four years,” Gunew said. “We’re going to go and absolutely give it our all.”
Source: ABC, 2025
From a competitive teenager forced to rethink her sporting future, to a three-time World Cup medallist racing down the world’s toughest slopes, Georgia’s journey is one of resilience. Harvey Norman is proud to support her, celebrating the next generation of Winter Para athletes who continue to push what’s possible.