Christian Geiger

On track to represent Australia at the Olympic Games, Christian Geiger’s world was turned upside down in 2009 when the car he was riding in slammed into a tree and two parked cars, causing severe brain trauma, as well as horrific injuries to his left arm, spleen and liver.

After spending a week in an induced coma and months undergoing intensive rehabilitation, during which time he relearned how to walk, talk and eat by himself, it was more than a year before Christian returned to the slopes.

Raised in Austria, Christian began skiing when he was two-years-old. He returned to Australia when he was eight and soon became one of the country’s top junior skiers. 

Excelling in the senior ranks too, he earned selection for the 2009 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Val-d’lsère, France, where he made his international debut.

Rediscovering his competitive spirit after the accident, Australian Paralympic Winter Team coach Steve Graham invited Christian to join the squad on a training camp, culminating in his Paralympic debut at Sochi 2014 where he led Paralympic cyclist and alpine skier Jessica Gallagher to bronze medal victory in the women’s Giant Slalom.

Now a sighted guide to multiple world champion Melissa Perrine, Christian will play the same role as he did for Jessica. He will ski in front of her issuing voice commands and information about changes in pitch, rhythm and snow conditions while racing at speeds of up to 105km/h.

Christian is also the women’s coach of the Australian Para-alpine skiing team. He not only lead Melissa in Pyeongchang but also sit-skier Victoria Pendergast.