Aaron McCarthy (snowboarder)

Aaron McCarthy
Personal information
Nationality Australia
Born (1994-03-18) 18 March 1994
Sport
CountryAustralia
SportPara-snowboarding
Disability classSB-LL1

Aaron McCarthy (born 18 March 1994)[1] is an Australian Paralympian who competed for Australia in para-snowboarding at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.[2]

Personal

On 14 December 2021, as a barley farmer, his left leg was caught in a harvester.[3] He saved his own life by tourniqueting his leg with a shirt and calling emergency services and his wife.[4] His left leg was amputated above the knee. He is married to Tahnee and they have three children.[4] In 2026, he continues to work on his farm just outside the Riverina town of The Rock.

Snowboarding

McCarthy learnt to snowboard in 2022 alongside Paralympian Joany Badenhorst in Thredbo as part of his rehabilitation. In 2023, he attended para snowboard development camp run by Snow Australia and Disabled Wintersport Australia (DWA).[5] McCarthy debuted for Australia during the 2024–25 European winter season and winning the European Cup overall standings for his classification.[6]

In January 2026, he suffered a collarbone injury in a crash at the Para Snowboard World Cup in Canada leaving him just short of selection for the 2026 Winter Paralympics.[4]

At the 2026 Winter Paralympics, he finished 12th in the Snowboard Cross SB-LL1 and 13th in the Snowboard Banked SB-LL1.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Aaron McCarthy". Paralympics Australia. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  2. ^ Zoe (25 February 2026). "Snowboarder To Make History As Australia's First Indigenous Winter Paralympian - Paralympics Australia". www.paralympic.org.au. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  3. ^ "NSW dad's incredible act after machine tore off his leg in an instant". 7NEWS. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b c "Four years after losing a leg, Aaron hopes to be a Winter Paralympian". ABC News. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  5. ^ Australia, Snow. "Chasing down Paralympic dreams at the FIS Development Camp". www.snow.org.au. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  6. ^ Federation, International Ski and Snowboard. "FIS | Aaron MCCARTHY - Athlete Biography - Para Snowboard". www.fis-ski.com. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics Games Schedule & Results". Bornan. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
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