Russell Docker

Docker was born in Poole, Dorset and attended school in Blandford. He trained as an electrician for three years, then as a ceramic tiler before running his own business for five years. He took up skiing at the age of 18 years. In 1995 whilst skiing in Avoriaz, France he was walking across a bridge when the snow collapsed, causing him to fall five meters. He broke two vertebrae in his back, causing damage to his spinal cord which left him paralysed.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/dorset/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8508000/8508594.stm |title=Paralympic hope for Russell Docker |date=10 February 2010 |publisher=BBC Dorset |accessdate=5 May 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.russforgold.org/russforgold/profile.asp?section=2 |title=A Profile of a determined man |publisher=russforgold.org |accessdate=5 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527052232/http://www.russforgold.org/russforgold/profile.asp?section=2 |archivedate=27 May 2011 }} Following his accident Docker took up skiing again using a sit-ski, also known as a mono-ski, which features a chair mounted on a single ski, with two short crutches for support.{{Cite news|publisher=BBC Dorset |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/articles/2005/04/18/russell_docker_feature.shtml |title=Russell Docker wins gold |accessdate=5 May 2010 |date=18 April 2005}}

His first Paralympic appearance came at the 2002 Winter Paralympics held in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States where he was one of two British athletes to compete. He participated in four events in the LW12 classification but crashed out in the downhill event and failed to complete his other three races.{{cite web |url=https://www.paralympic.org/russell-docker |title=Russell Docker |website=Paralympic.org |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=}}{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/winterolympics2002/hi/english/paralympics/newsid_1766000/1766835.stm |title=Duo ready for Salt Lake challenge |date=17 January 2002 |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=16 April 2010}}{{Cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/15032010/58/winter-olympics-docker-praying-third-time-charm.html |title=Winter Olympics – Docker praying third time is the charm |author=Eurosport |work=Yahoo Sport |date=15 March 2010 |accessdate=16 April 2010}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/5021146.Dorset_Paralympian_Russell_Docker__never_been_more_ready_to_compete_/ |title=Dorset Paralympian Russell Docker 'never been more ready to compete' |work=Bournemouth Echo |date= 22 February 2010 |accessdate=16 April 2010}} Docker was selected for his second Paralympics in 2006; he again competed in four events and achieved a highest finish of 23rd in the Super-G.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/4428162.stm |title=Turin welcomes Winter Paralympics |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 March 2006 |accessdate=20 April 2010}}

Docker's preparations for the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver were hindered by both the financial problems and eventual collapse of governing body SnowsportGB in the run up to the Games and a hairline fracture in his foot, which he suffered after dropping a medicine ball on it in training.{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/winter_sports/8199471.stm |title= British skiing hit by cash crisis |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2009 |author=Anna Thompson |accessdate=5 March 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/alpine-skiing/159871-docker-hoping-make-it-third-time-lucky-vancouver-paralympics |title=Docker hoping to make it third time lucky at Vancouver Paralympics |author=David Jordan |accessdate=5 May 2010 |date=15 March 2010 |publisher=morethanthegames.co.uk |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317220350/http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/alpine-skiing/159871-docker-hoping-make-it-third-time-lucky-vancouver-paralympics |archivedate=17 March 2010 }} At the Games he was disqualified in the downhill and failed to finish in the slalom and giant slalom following falls.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/dorset/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8574000/8574778.stm |title=Russell Docker still 'positive' at Paralympic Games |date=18 March 2010 |publisher=BBC Dorset |accessdate=5 May 2010}}{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/8575598.stm |title=Rose misses out on Winter Paralympic downhill medal |date=18 March 2010 |accessdate=5 May 2010 |work=BBC News}} The only race he completed was Super-G, where he placed 29th.

At the 2004 World Championships Docker finished 6th in downhill, 12th in Super-G and 15th in slalom. A year later he won a gold medal in the Super-G event at the European Cup Final in Austria.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/4079004.stm |title=GB trio secure Paralympic places |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 June 2005 |accessdate=5 May 2010}} In the 2009 World Cup he finished 17th in downhill and 15th in Super-Combined at the event in Sestriere and finished 15th in Super-Combined in Whistler. Docker won a bronze medal in the Super-G at the 2009 European Cup Final in Jasna, Slovakia.{{cite web |url=http://www.parasport.org.uk/news.asp?section=000100010003§ionTitle=News+section&itemID=941 |title=Hat-trick of Medals for Sowerby with Gold, Silver & Bronze in Jasna |date=1 April 2009 |accessdate=5 May 2010 |publisher=Parasport |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719145605/http://www.parasport.org.uk/news.asp?section=000100010003§ionTitle=News+section&itemID=941 |archivedate=19 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}

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• {{IPC athlete|russell-docker}}

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Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:British male alpine skiers

Category:Paralympic alpine skiers for Great Britain

Category:Alpine skiers at the 2002 Winter Paralympics

Category:Alpine skiers at the 2006 Winter Paralympics

Category:Alpine skiers at the 2010 Winter Paralympics

Category:Sportspeople from Poole