Kyrra Grunnsund

Kyrra Grunnsund OAM[1] (born 18 March 1959)[2] is an Australian Paralympic skier and athlete who has represented his country at five Paralympics, four winter and one summer. He was the first Australian to compete at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics, moving from skiing to athletics in 1992.

Kyrra Grunnsund
OAM
Grunnsund at the 1980 Geilo Winter Games
Personal information
Nationality Australia
Born18 March 1959
Grunnsund at the 1984 Innsbruck Winter Games

Personal

Grunnsund is a below-the-knee amputee.[3] In 2000, he was living in the Sydney suburb of Newtown.[4]

Competitive career

Grunnsund is an Australian Paralympic skier and athlete who has represented Australia at five Paralympics, four winter and one summer.[3] He competed in both alpine and cross-country skiing at the 1980 Geilo Paralympics and competed in just alpine skiing at the 1984 Innsbruck, 1988 Innsbruck, and 1992 Tignes-Albertville Winter Paralympics,[5][6][7][8] which was his final Winter Games appearance[7] in the same year he had his first Summer Paralympics appearance.[9] He switched sports in 1992, and then became the first Australian to compete in both the summer and winter Paralympics[9][10] when he competed in the 5,000 m and 10,000 m races.[5][11]

As the equivalent of a T44 competitor, he set an Australian national record at the 1992 Games on 12 September with a time of 19:24.28 in the 5,000 metres.[12] He set an Australian Allcomers record two years later on 6 March 1994 in Canberra in the same event with a time of 21:11.94.[12]

Recognition

Grunnsund received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1995[1] and an Australian Sports Medal in 2000.[13]

He was one of fifty-one Australian Paralympians to carry the Olympic torch during the 2000 Summer Olympics torch relay,[14] when he carried it on 14 September 2000, the 99th day of the relay.[15]

References
  1. "Grunnsund, Kyrra, OAM". It's an Honour. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  2. "Kyrra Grunnsund". Snowy Monaro Regional Council. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  3. Sygall, David (22 August 2004). "Bonaccurso's Hot And Cold Form Has Benefits". Herald Sun. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  4. "AUSTRALIA'S TORCHBEARER HONOUR ROLL - SOUVENIR SERIES - TORCHBEARERS CONTINUED". The Australian. Australia. 25 January 2000. p. L06. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  5. "Athlete Search Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  6. "APC's History: 1988 Winter Games". Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 6 February 2000. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  7. "APC's History: 1992". Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 6 February 2000. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  8. "APC's History: 1980". Australian Paralympic Committee. 6 February 2000. Archived from the original on 6 February 2000. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  9. "2010 Vancouver Games Media Guide" (PDF). Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  10. "Monypenny continues a Summer to Winter trend". Australian Paralympic Committee. 12 March 2010. Archived from the original on 27 April 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  11. "Anthony to achieve a rare double". The Gold Coast Bulletin. 1 September 2004. p. 136. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  12. "AWD Men's Outdoor Records". Athletics Australia. Archived from the original on 5 August 2005. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  13. "Grunnsund, Kyrra: Australian Sports Medal". It's an Honour. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  14. "APC Newsletter". Australian Paralympic Committee. January 2000. Archived from the original on 4 December 2000. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  15. "THE Torch in Sydney - DAY 99". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney, Australia. 15 September 2000. p. 65. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
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