Ottawa – John Gow’s Paralympic Games career lasted a mere one minute and 36.13 seconds. It was his winning time in the six-man slalom IV A alpine skiing race at the inaugural Paralympic Winter Games in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden held from February 21-28, 1976.
When the projected 600 athletes from 46 nations compete at Milano Cortina 2026, it’ll be 50 years since 196 athletes from 16 countries launched the Paralympic Games winter version.
This past fall, on October 8, 2024, Gow passed away in the shadow of his beloved Rocky Mountains in Canmore, Alta. at age 78. His obituary read: “his love for the mountains was a true passion. He shared his expertise with boundless enthusiasm and a generous spirit, leaving an indelible mark on Western Canada’s ski industry.”
While Gow’s passage in Paralympic history was brief, his story is one that resonates strongly with the Games spirit. Gow triumphed over adversity. He surmounted physical challenges to pursue his sports and career dreams.
The father of six, was a star in his community, but not for his Paralympic triumph.