Graham led the team in Sochi this year, which was his fifth Winter Paralympics involved with the Australian squad and third as head coach, and saw Australia come away with two bronze medals in the form of Alpine skiers Jessica Gallagher and Toby Kane.

That added to a haul of four bronze and two silver medals from Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010.

Prior to being officially appointed to head the Australian Winter Paralympic programme in 2003, Graham had been involved in coaching able-bodied skiers since 1983, before linking up with Alpine skier Michael Milton, who he guided to four gold medals at the 2002 Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City.

"Steve has brought an enormous amount of success to the APC's winter programme over a long period of time," said Australian Paralympic Committee chief executive, Jason Hellwig.

"His love for the sport and his commitment to the athletes has been there for all to see, and he will stand down as one of the nation's most successful elite coaches.

"The programme is now preparing to begin a new era.

"Along with Steve, the APC recognises that there are improvements that need to be made to enable us to achieve further success.

"This is why the decision has been made to make this change and move the programme in a new direction."

Graham helped guide Michael Milton to a four gold medal clean-sweep at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002 ©AFP/Getty Images




Specialising in Alpine skiing, Graham is credited with promoting the numbers of disabled female skiers taking up the sport in Australia, as well developing one-legged skiers such as Paralympic medallists Cameron Rahles-Rahbula and Kane to compete at the highest level.

"I've been asked a few times why I got into coaching athletes with a disability and for me, coaching athletes with a disability really wasn't that special," said the 52-year-old.

"I was a professional coach and had been for 15 years and it was just like coaching any other athlete to be their best.

"To coach Australia to be successful on the world stage was really appealing.

"For me personally, in some capacity I would like to help keep one-legged skiers at the Paralympic Games.

"With both Cameron Rahles-Rahbula and Toby Kane now retired, there aren't many one-legged skiers left who can compete against two-legged athletes.

"I think the image of a person with one leg skiing down a mountain is a really powerful one for the Paralympic Movement.

"The skill involved and overcoming the barriers that snow conditions can throw at you with one leg exemplifies what Paralympic sport is about and I would hate to see that group of skiers be no longer competitive.

"The sport is getting tougher and tougher, and not necessarily fairer and fairer and we just have to be really astute in addressing that.

"The Movement has changed immensely in the time I've been involved.

"That change has been really good to be part of and to see happen, and with the foundation that has now been set, the future of winter sport in this country is bright."

The APC is now in the process of recruiting a replacement for Graham which is being led by its performance manager for winter sports, Pim Berkhout.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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