Diana Golden
Competition | 1995
Diana Golden began skiing at the age of five, making regular trips to Cannon Mountain Ski Area with her parents. However, in 1975, at the age of 12, she was diagnosed with bone cancer of her right leg, requiring amputation above the knee. Following her rehabilitation, she began skiing again and by the age of 17 had joined the United States Disabled Ski Team (USDST).
During a period from 1986 to 1990, Diana Golden was one of the most prolific disabled skiers in the United States. She dominated the U.S. Disabled Alpine Championships in both 1987 and 1988, winning all four of the giant slalom, slalom, downhill and combined disciplines. Also in 1988, Diana won two golds at the World Disabled Championships and also won a gold in the giant slalom at the Winter Olympics in Calgary, where the event was held as a demonstration sport. She retired from competitive skiing in 1990, but before retirement she would win three gold medals at her last World Disabled Championships at Winter Park Resort in Colorado. In total throughout her career Diana won 19 national, 10 World and one Olympic gold medals.
Diana began skiing as a 3-tracker, using outrigger cuffs for stability. However, she later opted to use standard ski poles in order to reach greater speeds. In 1990, using the normal ski poles and one ski, Diana was recorded at a speed of 65 miles per hour during a downhill race. As well as competing in disabled events, Diana took part in able-bodied events and she got the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) to pass the “Golden Rule” in 1985.
Under this rule, the top disabled skiers were able to race after only the top 15 skiers had taken part, thus enabling the disabled skiers to compete before the course became rutted from heavy usage. In 1987, competing against able-bodied competitors, Golden finished 10th in a USSA competition.
Diana battled with bouts of cancer throughout her lifetime. In 2001, she succumbed to recurring breast cancer. Following her death, she would inspire a race series called the “Diana Golden Race Series”, hosted by Disabled Sports USA, held annually at various ski resorts in the Eastern United States.
