Family and friends of Shaun Pianta gathered at the Shire of Collie’s council chambers recently to recognise the Winter Paralympian’s achievements.
Pianta created history back in March when he, along with Bunbury’s Sean Pollard, became the state’s first ever Winter Paralympians.
Pianta competed in two alpine skiing events at the games and finished 14th in the giant slalom with his sighted guide Jeremy O’Sullivan.
In order to recognise the achievement, the Shire of Collie hosted a civic ceremony for Pianta, his friends and family, and shire councillors on Friday, June 8.
Sport and recreation minister and Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray said Pianta was a role model to others going through adversity.
“As a person, you have shown a lot of people what you can do when adversity actually comes along,” he said.
“That shows the dedication you’ve got to your sport and also to other people around you, you haven’t let them down by saying ‘I’ve had enough’.”
Pianta said he was thankful of the support he received from the community during training and at the games.
He said he hadn’t been completely happy with his performances at the games, but that he was proud to have been there after tearing his ACL in training just two months before competing.
He also said he was now considering retirement from competition and getting back into ‘real life’.
