Sean Pollard

Sean Pollard
Personal information
Nationality Australia
Born (1991-03-22) 22 March 1991 (age 35)
Sport
CountryAustralia
SportPara-snowboarding
Disability classSB-UL
Medal record
Para-snowboard
Representing  Australia
World Para Snowboard Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Pyha Men's Snowboard Cross UL

Sean Pollard (born 22 March 1991) is an Australian Paralympian who represented Australia in para-snowboarding at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang, South Korea and has been selected to compete at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.[1][2]

Personal

On 2 October 2014, Pollard was attacked by two sharks (possibly great whites) whilst surfing at Kelpids Beach, east of Esperance, Western Australia.[3][4] He lost his left arm and right hand whilst fighting off the sharks.[4] Before the attack he was an electrician, keen surfer and former South Bunbury footballer.[4] In March 2015, more than $100,000 was raised by his local community in Bunbury, Western Australia to assist him on his new journey.[5]

Career

It was not until 2015 that Pollard encountered snow for the first time during a holiday in Canada. During the holiday, he tried snowboarding. After returning to Australia, he took part in an Australian Paralympic Committee specialist camp for Para-snowboarders with upper limb impairments.[1] Pollard has mentioned that his previous surfing and skating skills have helped his transition into snowboarding.[6]

In his first international season, he had several top 15 results including a sixth-place finish in the men's Snowboard Cross at the 2017 IPC Snowboard World Cup at Lake Tahoe, United States.[1] At the 2016/17 IPC World Cup Finals in PyeongChang, South Korea, Pollard finished eight in the snow board cross and banked slalom.[1]

At the 2018 Winter Paralympics, he competed in two snowboard events – fifth in the Men's Banked Slalom SB-UL and ninth in the Men's Snowboard Cross SB-UL.[7]

At the 2019 World Para Snowboard Championships, Pyha, Finland, Pollard won the bronze medal in Men's Snowboard Cross UL and finished seventh in the Men's Banked Slalom UL.[8]

Pollard did not compete at the 2022 Winter Paralympics as he decided to remain with his young family in Western Australia due to the States strict COVID travel restrictions.[9]

Pollard was appointed captain of the Australian Paralympic Team at 2026 Winter Paralympics, Milano Cortina .[10] At the 2026 Winter Paralympics, he finished 9th in the Snowboard Cross SB-UL and 12th in the Snowboard Banked SB-UL [11] He carried the flag with Lauren Parker at the Closing Ceremony.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Sean Pollard". Australian Paralympic Committee website. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  2. ^ Zoe (28 February 2026). "Australian Team Finalised For Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games - Paralympics Australia". www.paralympic.org.au. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  3. ^ Wahlquist, Calla (3 October 2014). "Shark attack: Sean Pollard loses arm, both hands in 'feeding frenzy'". Perth Now. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Paddenburg, Trevor (15 February 2015). "Esperance shark attack survivor Sean Pollard recalls how he fought off white pointer". Perth Now. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  5. ^ Miller, Shanelle (30 March 2015). "More than $100k raised for Bunbury shark attack survivor Sean Pollard". Queensland Country Life. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Surfer mauled by two sharks prepares for Paralympics". Yahoo7. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Sean Pollard". 2018 Winter Paralympics Official site. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  8. ^ "SSA Weekend Wrap | 1 April". Ski and Snowboard Australia website. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.[dead link]
  9. ^ Dick, Callum (13 March 2022). "Beijing Paralympics: Disappointing medal haul defended as blame centres on our Covid restrictions". News.com.au. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  10. ^ Zoe (14 October 2025). "How Pollard Went From Party Boy To Australian Team Captain | Paralympics Australia". Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics Games Schedule & Results". Bornan. Retrieved 15 March 2026.

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