Triple Winter Olympian Steven Lee suffers stroke
One of Australia’s greatest alpine skiers is recovering in hospital after suffering a stroke on Sunday. Steven Lee was at his Falls Creek home when the terrifying episode occurred.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Triple Winter Olympian Steven Lee is recovering in hospital after suffering a stroke on Sunday at his Falls Creek home.
Lee, 58, is one of Australia’s greatest alpine skiers and wore the green and gold at three consecutive Olympic Games – 1984, 1988 and 1992.
He had to be air-lifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where his condition is still being monitored, although a statement from Snow Australia said he had a “lengthy and challenging recovery process” ahead.
After a stellar 25-year competitive career, Lee remained involved in the sport as a director of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, a national selector and president of the Falls Creek Race Club.
Social media was flooded with gestures of support for the popular skier.
Australia’s five-time world aerial ski champion Jacqui Cooper posted: “Oh no!!!!! Terrible news. I am crossing, fingers, toes and my legs!!!!!He is a super human so he can get through this!”
OWIA spokesman Chris Hocking said the skiing fraternity was rallying around Lee’s family.
“He was the doyen of alpine skiing in Australia through the 1980s and 90s and he’s still a remarkably big figure in Australian skiing,” Hocking said.
Lee is one of only three Australians to have claimed victory on the Alpine World Cup circuit – in Furano, Japan, in 1985.
He produced his best Olympic finish at his third Games in Albertville where he finished 16th in the Super Combined event.
When asked recently about the reception he received being an Australian on top of the podium on the world stage, Lee said: “In the early days as I was breaking into the European race scene people were constantly surprised by my ability and results.
“The most common question asked was “so we understand you race for Australia, but are you actually Austrian or Swiss”?.
“No one believed I grew up and learnt to ski 100% in Australia. However, at world cup level respect comes with results, no matter what your country of origin.”
Lee has been a regular in the commentary box at recent Winter Olympics and was also famous for doing skiing stunt-work in adventure films starring Roger Moore and Jackie Chan.
In recent years he has been operating ski touring businesses at his home resort Falls Creek and in Hakuba, Japan, during the northern season.
MORE NEWS
WHY THERE’S STILL HOPE FOR MELBOURNE CUP CROWD
DOCTOR: WEIR HORSES SHOWED NO PAIN DESPITE ALLEGED TORTURE