Liana
France

Liana France could become Australia’s first Para-snow sport star inspired by Peppa Pig. Or, more specifically, Madame Gazelle. You see, when Liana was two years old, she watched the Peppa episode ‘Snowy Mountain’, in which Peppa’s diversely talented playgroup teacher becomes the kids’ ski instructor.  

It captivated little Liana and she asked her parents if they would take her to the snow for her birthday. She fell in love with skiing from the first lesson and progressed through ski school, junior workshops and into race club by age nine.  

“At the bottom of the junior workshop skills checklist for black runs it said, ‘See you at the Olympics’,” Liana said. “Ever since, I wanted to complete the check list and go to the Olympics for skiing.” 

That goal changed to ‘Paralympics’ after Liana acquired her impairment in a vehicle accident when she was 13. In 2022, she competed at the Snow Australia Children’s Carnival, attended a Future Green and Gold talent search event at the AIS in 2024, as well as a Para Futures camp and, in early 2025, she was selected to Snow Australia’s Emerging Talent Program.  

The Year 10 student, who describes herself as strong and independent, has many interests, including dragon boating, hiking and playing bass guitar, and she’s eyeing a working career in medicine. 

Her priority right now, though, is to make her Paralympic debut at the Milano Cortina Paralympics and make Australia and Madame Gazelle proud. 

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