FACTOIDS
Full Name: Alisa Camplin
Nickname: Alisa
Birthday: November 10, 1974
Height: 5’2”
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Sports: Freestyle Skiing
Profile
Alisa captivated the world and made history through the triumph of quiet dedication. To win the gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the 5-foot-2-inch Australian landed a “back full/double full” on her second jump. She out-jumped the World Record Holder, reigning World Cup Grand Prix Champion and the World Champion to become the Olympic Champion. While the Australia public was taken by surprise, there was collective pride (and tears) for Australia's humble hero during Alisa's triumph and gold medal presentation in Salt Lake City.
However the “aerial skiing community” was not surprised to see the Olympic gold medal hanging around Alisa’s neck. Alisa finished 7th at her first Aerial World Championships in 1999. Alisa continued in proving her form in a very short period of time and achieved an incredible ranking of fifth in the 2000-2001 World Cup standings as a result of these consistent performances. Alisa also started the latest season in great form, wining a silver medal in the second World Cup of the season at Mt Buller, then followed with a string of top five placings, including two podium finishes.
Few know about Alisa's path to the Olympics, including striving for perfection, precision in planning, dedication of training and rehabilitation from injuries. For example, she competed at the Olympics with two broken ankles! This followed a series of nine concussions, a broken collarbone, a broken hand, a separated shoulder, a torn knee ligament and a torn achilles’ tendon. However, Alisa is the first to admit that it was worth it to become Australia’s first-ever female (and first-ever snow sport) Winter Olympic gold medallist.
