Jack Benedick, considered by some to be one of Paralympic skiing’s pioneers, passed away in Denver, Colorado, on March 19. He was 70.
Benedick was a Vietnam veteran who sustained bilateral transtibial amputations on his second tour of duty in 1969. His injuries led him to pursue skiing as part of his rehabilitation. He returned to duty in 1970 as the only bilateral amputee in active service. While stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, he became active in organizations dedicated to sports for individuals with disabilities and was elected president of the Rocky Mountain Handicapped Sportsmen’s Association in 1973. After retiring from the service in 1978 he became president of the National Handicapped Sports and Recreation Association (now Disabled Sports USA), and during his tenure he helped advance the position of the sport. As a member of the U.S. Handicap Ski Team (now U.S. Adaptive Ski Team) from 1979 to 1986, Benedick won a silver medal in the 1984 Winter Paralympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria, and two bronze medals in the 1986 World Championships in Sälen, Sweden. In the 1990s he was instrumental in gaining acceptance of adaptive skiing by the International Ski Federation. He also was a 1996 inductee to the Disabled Ski Hall of Fame, in 2006 he was honored with the Paralympic Order award from the International Paralympic Committee for his 30 years of work for athletes with disabilities, and in 2010 he was inducted in the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.
“Great leaders make it possible for athletes to achieve their Olympic dreams,” U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO Bill Marolt said. “As a pioneer of adaptive skiing, Jack Benedick made a difference for generations of athletes. All of us in the skiing family will miss his friendship and passionate pursuit of goals on behalf of adaptive athletes.”
“He was an iconic figure and was a significant leader in the Paralympic Movement who demanded and delivered excellence. Our past Paralympic skiing achievements can be attributed to Jack’s leadership and indomitable spirit,” said U.S. Olympic Committee Chief of Paralympics Charlie Huebner. “His motto, ‘Fourth is not good enough,’ aligns with our Paralympic vision of competitive excellence and push for podium finishes. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this most difficult time. He will be greatly missed.”
