People have amazing stories - Sean Pollard

@JudyEv (382325)
Rockingham, Australia
March 9, 2026 2:29am CST
People have some amazing stories. The captain of the Australian Paralympics Team currently competing in Milano Cortina is Sean Pollard. He was a keen surfer but lost his left arm and right hand in October 2014, when attacked by a great white shark off the coast of Esperance in Western Australia. He also had deep lacerations to his legs and was lucky to survive. In 2015, Pollard encountered snow for the first time at Mt Buller. During a holiday in Canada in the same year, he tried snowboarding and attended a specialist camp soon after. He competed in the 2018 Winter Paralympics but missed the 2022 Games, due to Western Australia’s travel restrictions during Covid. He married in 2016 and his wife has since undergone treatment for breast cancer. He hasn’t won a major medal yet but has overcome a heap of challenges already. The photo is mine, taken in Austria. In the winter, this is a skiing area.
12 people like this
10 responses
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (56354)
• Canada
9 Mar
That is an amazing story he has to share. I hope that he places and gets a medal. We know one of the sledge hockey referees that is at the paralympics this time around. He actually hails from the same little village that we come from. Our son knows a player of the paralympic sledge hockey team, like Sean Pollard, he has a story to tell of a terrible accident, but our son tells us that he is the most grounded and grateful guy he's ever met.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Mar
I'm sure many of these athletes have incredible stories but it's not often you get to hear them.
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Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (56354)
• Canada
9 Mar
@JudyEv That's right, unless you know of one personally or they are featured in a local newspaper story do you hear their back story.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Mar
@Juliaacv I am slowly reseaching some of these athletes. I find it so interesting.
1 person likes this
April
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
9 Mar
Beautiful picture. I'd love to visit Austria.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Mar
We loved touring through that area. You can see the switchback roads in the background.
April
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
10 Mar
@JudyEv That sounds awsome! Plus you always have the coolest photos.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Mar
@thislittlepennyearns Thanks. I'm really thankful that I can share photos here. It's nice to think people enjoy them.
celticeagle
@celticeagle (189927)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Mar
Wow! Well they say things happen in threes. I hope this is the last of such things in his life.
1 person likes this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (189927)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Mar
@JudyEv .......I think he's had his share.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Mar
He has certainly had a few challenges in his time.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
10 Mar
What a story! I watched some of the Paralympics this year and met so many skiers when we visited Austria.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar
I'm trying to watch each afternoon. They're not shown here till 1.30pm.
1 person likes this
Jessica
@JESSY3236 (22244)
• United States
10 Mar
pretty picture. Yeah he has an amazing story.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar
You'd think he would have got depressed from time to time. Perhaps he did.
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Ali Canary
@AliCanary (4459)
•
9 Mar
Goodness, those are a lot of very big challenges! I hope he can realize his dream and get a medal.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Mar
He seems very grounded but it would be nice to see him get a medal. Imagine losing a hand and an arm. It must have been so hard for him in the early days.
1 person likes this
Ali Canary
@AliCanary (4459)
•
9 Mar
@JudyEv no doubt! He really has a strong survivor mentality.
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (120987)
• United States
9 Mar
What an incredible human he is. I pray his wife recovers fully. Some people just get way too much hardship in their lives.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Mar
These people must be SO dedicated and determined. You have to admire their spirit.
1 person likes this
snowy
@snowy22315 (209073)
• United States
9 Mar
That is amazing to be sure.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Mar
I guess his is just one of many similar stories.
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21492)
• London, England
9 Mar
Just proves that determination can overcome so many things
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Mar
They must have been through some tough times.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222623)
• United States
9 Mar
Pollard is a shining example for those with physical challenges. Beautiful photo.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Mar
I'm checking on some of the other athletes too. The stories are so interesting.
1 person likes this