Alana Nichols

**Alana Jane Nichols** (born March 21, 1983) be American Paralympic wheelchair basketball player den alpine skier.

## Childhood

Na dem born Nichols insyd New Mexico wey na wen she be nine months old, drunk driver kill ein poppie. Secof na ein mommie dey struggle make she raise Nichols den three oda siblings, na dem send Nichols den ein older sisto, Jovan, to dema grandparents insyd Farmington, New Mexico. Dey grow up, Nichols spend winters snowboarding insyd Colorado. During one such snowboarding trip insyd 2000, she attempt back flip buh she over-rotate wey she land back-first for rock top. Wen de accident occur, dem take Nichols by helicopter to de San Juan Regional Medical Center insyd Farmington wey e take eight hours of surgery make dem reconstruct ein back plus two rods den three pins. De injury break ein T10/11 vertebrae den lef am paralyzed from de waist down.

## College years

Nine months after ein accident, Nichols head go de University of New Mexico make she join ein sisto. Na ebe der, insyd 2002, wey na dem introduce Nichols to wheelchair basketball wey she quickly excel for de sport. After she discover de sport Nichols transfer to de University of Arizona, wer na she study special education rehab den school psychology. She later attend graduate school for de University of Alabama, eventually she graduate plus master's degree insyd kinesiology.

## Olympic career

Nichols be five-time Paralympian (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016) den six-time medalist (3 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze). After she serve as alternate give de U.S. women's team for de 2004 Summer Paralympics insyd Athens, na dem name am to de national team insyd 2005, wey she help de team win silver medal insyd de 2006 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship. Ein Paralympic debut cam insyd 2008 wen, as part of de U.S. women's team, she win gold medal insyd wheelchair basketball for de Beijing games.

One month after de Beijing Paralympics, Nichols move from Alabama go Colorado make she begin dey train insyd alpine skiing. Na she try adaptive skiing insyd 2002, buh for de time she choose make she focus for basketball top instead. After she watch de skiing events for de 2006 Winter Paralympics wey she learn of de National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) insyd Winter Park, Colorado, she decide make she pursue de sport as soon as dem plete de 2008 Summer Paralympics. She begin dey practice plus de NSCD program wey she show quick improvement. Ein first win cam insyd February 2009 wen she beat Paralympic gold medalist Laurie Stephens make she take first insyd de super-G for sam North American Cup event insyd Kimberley, British Columbia. She win de downhill event wey she place third insyd de super combined for de U.S. Adaptive Nationals later dat year. Insyd March 2010, she plete ein first IPC Alpine World Cup season plus first place insyd de downhill, second insyd super combined, den third insyd super-G. Later insyd March, she compete insyd de 2010 Winter Paralympic Games insyd Vancouver, BC, Canada wer na she win two gold medals, silver medal den bronze medal.  She place first insyd de downhill den de giant slalom, second insyd de super-G, den third insyd de super combined. Nichols be de first American woman plus gold medals insyd de summer den winter games.

Insyd 2012, Nichols compete insyd de London Paralympics, wer de United States women's wheelchair basketball team place fourth. Dey lead up to de 2014 Paralympic Winter Games insyd Sochi, Russia, Nichols tear ein three ligaments while she dey train. Despite dis injury, na she be able make she recover den earn silver medal insyd de downhill. Insyd 2016, Nichols make ein debut insyd de paracanoe for de Paralympic Games Rio.

## Media Career

Nichols commentate give NBC during de 2021 Tokyo Paralympics.

## References


## External links

* Alana Nichols at de International Canoe Federation 
* Alana Nichols at de International Paralympic Committee 
* Alana Nichols at Team USA (archive September 25, 2022)