The Deaflympics Games, under the auspices of the Comité International Des Sports Des Sourds (International Committee of Deaf Sports - CISS) were first competed in Paris in 1924, making it the oldest among the disabled sports organizations. It also receives official recognition and patronage from the International Olympic Committee.

The first Winter Deaflympic Games (formerly named International Winter Silent Games and Winter World Deaf Games) were staged in Seefeld, Austria in 1949.

In 1965, Australia was, for the first time, represented at the Summer World Games for the Deaf, the quadrennial "Olympic Games for the Deaf" at Washington DC

In 1975, Andrew Swan become first three Australians alpine skiing competitor at the eighth Winter Deaf Games, Lake Placid. Andrew is the most inspired Deaf skier in Australia with 4 times Winter Deaflympics (1975, 1979, 1983, 1987) and collected 6 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze medals. Andrew had achieved as the first non-European to win Gold and third skier to win two Gold medals in thirty six years of the competition.

PICTURE: Queen of Norway presented Gold medal to Andrew Swan for winning his Giant Slalom race at Oslo, Norway in 1987.

Roll of Honours

1975

Lake Placid, New York U.S.A.
SILVER - Andrew Swan (Men’s Giant Slalom)
BRONZE - Andrew Swan (Men’s Slalom)
10th - Andrew Swan (Men's Downhill)
35th - Matthew Veale (Men's Downhill)
DNF - Matthew Veale (Men's Slalom)
DSQ - Matthew Veale (Men's Giant Slalom)
DSQ - John H. Cole (Men's Slalom)

Coach - Thomas Swan, Team Manager - John Lovett

Click here go to Lake Placid gallery


1979

Meribel, France
GOLD - Andrew Swan (Men’s Slalom)
GOLD - Andrew Swan (Men’s Giant Slalom)
SILVER - Andrew Swan (Men’s Downhill)

Coach - Peter Hubrick (GER), Team Manager - Matthew Veale

Click here go to Meribel gallery


1983

Madonna di Campiglio, Italy
GOLD - Andrew Swan (Men’s Giant Slalom)
GOLD - Andrew Swan (Men’s Super Giant Slalom)
SILVER - Andrew Swan (Men’s Downhill)
DNF - Andrew Swan (Men's Slalom)

Coach - Patrick Duvillard (FRA), Team Manager - Matthew Veale

Click here to go Madonna di Campiglio gallery

1987

Oslo, Norway
GOLD - Andrew Swan (Men’s Downhill)
GOLD - Andrew Swan (Men’s Giant Slalom)
4th - Andrew Swan (Men's Parallel Slalom)
DNF - Andrew Swan (Men's Slalom)
SILVER - Joanne Samuels (Women’s Downhill)
12th - Joanne Samuels (Women's Slalom)
DNF - Joanne Samuels (Women's Giant Slalom)
DSQ - Joanne Samuels (Women's Parallel Slalom)
35th - Ian Slinn (Men's Giant Slalom)
DNF - Ian Slinn (Men's Slalom)
DSQ - Ian Slinn (Men's Parallel Slalom)

Coach -Patrick Duvillard (FRA), Team Manager - David Peters

Click here go to Oslo gallery

1991

Banff, Canada
Australian did not competed.

1995

Yllas, Finland
Australian did not competed.


1999

Davos, Switzerland
6th - Dean Hecker (Men's Giant Slalom Snowboard)
9th - Dean Hecker (Men's Slalom Snowboard) 
9th - Dean Hecker (Men's Halfpipe Snowboard)
DNC - Fiona Crisp (Injury Alpine Skiing)

Coach - Andrew Swan, Team Manager - David Peters

Click here go to Davos Gallery

2003

Sundsvall, Sweden
Coming soon