Michael Milton

Michael John Milton, OAM (born 21 March 1973) is an Australian Paralympic skier, Paralympic cyclist and paratriathlete with one leg. With 6 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals he is the most successful Australian Paralympic athlete in the Winter Games.

In 2024, Milton was elevated to Legend of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Personal Milton was born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, on 21 March 1973. His left leg was amputated above the knee when he was nine years old due an osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer). He grew up in a skiing family and, after losing his leg, he was determined to ski again. Milton married his wife Penni in 2006 while undergoing treatment for oesophageal cancer. Their first child (Matilda) was one year old. Following surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Milton was selected in the Australian team to compete as a cyclist at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. Milton's son (Angus) was born in November 2008. Milton opened Quizzic Alley, a store specialising in licensed Harry Potter merchandise, in his home town of Canberra in September 2018 and a second store in Sydney in December 2020. In November 2023 Milton was diagnosed with cancer for the third time. He had surgery in December to remove a tumour from his bowel and was given the all-clear soon after.

Skiing

I think there's a natural competitive spirit within myself, and perhaps the environment that I grew up in – learning to live with one leg, wanting to be competitive with my able-bodied peers – really created that mindset.... it's only a leg. The really important things in life are family, friends and having fun. None of those things have anything to do with how many legs you have. — Michael Milton, skier At the 1992 Tignes-Albertville Winter Paralympics, he won a gold medal in the men's slalom LW2 event, for which he received a Medal of the Order of Australia, That year he also won the slalom in the Austrian championships, and in 1993 he won both the slalom and super giant slalom at the Columbia Crest Cup.

In 2000, he received an Australian Sports Medal. In 2001, he was inducted into the Australian Institute of Sport 'Best of the Best'. At the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Paralympics, he won four gold medals in the men's Downhill LW2, Men's giant slalom LW2, Men's slalom LW2, and Men's Super-G LW2 events. At the 2006 Turin Winter Paralympics, he won a silver medal in the men's Downhill standing event.

At the 2014 Sochi Games, he was the assistant alpine skiing coach of the Australian Paralympic Team.

Milton came out of retirement in October 2025 to compete at the 2026 Winter Paralympics. In February 2025, he suffered a fracture in his femur while training in the US. His results were - 13th in Men's Super combined - Standing, 20th in Men's Slalom - Standing and 23rd in Men's Super-G - Standing. At 52 years and 350 days when the Games opened on 6 March, he became the oldest ever Australian Winter Paralympian.

Milton holds the open Australian downhill speed skiing record, beating the top recorded speeds by able-bodied skiers. His personal best downhill speed is . It was Milton's first attempt at a marathon, and he finished the course in 5:23:30.

Recognition 1992 – Medal of the Order of Australia 2000 – Australian Sports Medal 2001 – Australian Institute of Sport 'Best of the Best' inductee 2002 – Australian Paralympian of the Year 2002 – Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability 2007 – Australian Capital Territory Australian of the Year. 2014 – Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductee 2015 – ACT Sports Hall of Fame inductee 2022 - Paralympics Australia Hall of Fame 2024 - Elevated to Sport Australia Hall of Fame Legend