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Ask Taryn Dickens about her quest to qualify for Milano Cortina and her answer epitomises the saying ‘It’s about the journey, not the destination’.
The high-spirited Para-biathlete is throwing all she has at making Australia’s team for the Paralympic Winter Games, which starts on March 6, exactly 200 days from now. But, even if she doesn’t achieve that goal, her gratitude, zest for life and thrill at discovering snow sports shines through in her approach to each day.
“Milano Cortina … yeah, it’s there. I might not make it, but I’m a glass half-full kind of person,” Dickens said.
“I just aim to put my best foot forward every race, every day, every task. It’s like being told you’ve got a disability late in life. You can let it throw you off course or you can just take a new course and go with it.”
Less than three years since entering the fascinating world of Para-biathlon and four years since being diagnosed with a degenerative vision impairment, Dickens said that even if she didn’t make it to Italy next year, the experience of trying would have been well worth it.
A big reason for that is the solid links she has forged along the way with her sighted guide Lynn Cullen and fellow Milano Cortina Para-biathlon hopefuls Matt Brumby and Dave Miln. The four have spent lengthy periods under a single roof, travelling, training and competing domestically and around the world. They’ve been zeroed in on their individual and collective tasks but also treasured the cheeky, niggly chatter that’s a common hallmark in tight-knit teams. Add in the coaching of Kaspar Wirz, whose vast knowledge and successes are matched by a razor-sharp dry wit, and you have a formula that’s already a winner.
“It’s an individual sport but I do have a team with my guide. We’re a team within a team,” Dickens said. “And, with the boys, it’s just good fun. They’re like a big brother and a little brother. The banter is just hot and fast, and I love it. It’s been it’s like a little family.
“I think, having such a small group of people, you really share something special. It all works. It’s awesome.”
Australian Paralympic Team Chef de Mission Ben Troy said the Para-biathlon squad was showing the type of unity that’s required to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
“They support each other, they respect each other and they’re bringing out the best in each other. You can’t ask for more than that,” Troy said.
“Winter Para-sport is challenging. There’s a lot of travel involved, lots of very early mornings and, to be honest, plenty of things that can go wrong. But when you’ve got athletes like Dave, Matt, Taryn and Lynn, and a coach like Kaspar, you really get a sense of how powerful team spirit and camaraderie can be.
“Each member of this squad is striving to represent Australia at the Paralympics, just like our Para-alpine skiers and Para-snowboarders. With 200 days to go, I’m just so proud of the way they’re all going about it.”
Part of Dickens’ optimistic approach may stem from the way she’s processed life events. The Able Seaman in the Royal Australian Navy had been a competitive cyclist, among many active pursuits, including soccer and muay thai. But, when her vision started to become affected, throwing her professional and sporting careers into question, she struggled with her mental health. Through an interservice competition while at recruit school, she discovered Para-biathlon and performed especially well at a development camp. In late 2023, she received her international classification, B3, opening the door to potentially becoming Australia’s first representative in the Para-Nordic sports of cross country and biathlon since 2006, alongside her guide Cullen.
“At 36 years old, being told I’m going to be blind eventually, it’s not something I have control over,” Dickens said. “As much as we all want to control our lives, there’s not really much point worrying about stuff you can’t control.
“I’m not going to lie and say I’ve missed out. I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on life. Living life like this has been so exciting. There’s no way I would have even started in skiing (otherwise).”
There is plenty to learn about – and from – Australia’s prospective Milano Cortina Paralympic representatives over the next 200 days and beyond.
By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Published: 18 August 2025
