Cameron Rahles-Rahbula

Cameron Rahles-Rahbula (born 9 July 1983) is an Australian former Paralympic alpine skier. He won two bronze medals at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver. He represented Australia in four Paralympics, stating with the 2002 Winter Paralympics in Salt Lake City and the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Turin. He did not compete in any events at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi due to knee and ankle injuries sustained during the warm up for the downhill event of the Games but carried the Australian flag (albeit on crutches) in the Parade of Nations at the Opening Ceremony. He also won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 2004 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Wildschönau, Austria, and a gold and a bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships in Jeongseon, Korea. He retired after the Sochi Games.

Personal Cameron Rahles-Rahbula was born in Camperdown, Victoria, on 9 July 1983. He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer at the age of 12 and after unsuccessful chemotherapy had his left leg amputated above the knee at the age of 14. At university, he studied physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne and currently works as a physiotherapist. Jansen had become Australia's first female Paralympic skier when she competed at the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Turin. They have two sons named Archie and Finn.

In 2023, Rahles-Rahbula was found guilty of recording a private activity without consent and attempting to produce child abuse material after covertly filming a topless 17-year old student during a treatment session at Geelong Grammar School. Magistrate Simon Guthrie, sitting in the Geelong Magistrates Court, rejected claims that the video started by accident. Magistrate Guthrie did not record a criminal conviction, instead placing Rahles-Rahbula on a two-year adjourned undertaking and ordering him to pay a $5000 fine . His physiotherapy registration with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia has been suspended .

Career

Rahles-Rahbula's first major success was 2nd place in the giant slalom at the 2001 National Championships at Mount Hotham. He competed at the 2002 Winter Paralympics in Salt Lake City in four LW2 men's events – downhill (9th), slalom (17th), giant slalom (did not finish) and super-G (did not finish). At the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Turin, he competed in four standing events, coming 14th in the slalom and did not finish in the downhill, giant slalom and super-G.

At the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, Rahles-Rahbula won bronze medals in the men's slalom standing event and the men's super combined standing event. He finished 4th in the downhill, 6th in the giant slalom and 5th in the super-G. At the 2009 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships at High Resort 1 in Jeongseon County, Korea, he won a gold medal in the men's slalom standing and a bronze medal in the men's giant slalom standing. In December 2013, he announced that he would aim to compete at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi. He played an important role in supporting the Australian Team during the Games, and announced that he was retiring.

Recognition 2004 – Young Victorian of the Year for his work with young skiers with a disability. 2010 – Australian Flag Bearer for Closing Ceremony at 2010 Winter Paralympics