Jess Gallagher.

Summer & Winter Paralympic Medallist

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Athlete

Jess... the Athlete.

A journey full of twists and turns has created a career unlike any other.

Jess… the long jump and javelin thrower.

(2007 - 2012)

Jess discovered that Paralympic sport existed by chance in 2007. She took up athletics because she had done very well during her high school track meets thanks to her junior elite Netball and Basketball career. She wasn’t sure which event she would specialise in so started training in discus, shot put, 100m and long jump to see. Deep down she believed long jump would be her best as she had always had an excellent vertical jump! She qualified in all 4 events for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, breaking Oceania records in Long Jump, Discus and Shot Put in the lead up. In Beijing she was classified out and was unable to compete. With her eye sight deteriorating further and after her sport witch to ski racing she came back to athletics and in 2011 won silver and bronze at the World Athletics Championships in Long Jump and Javelin respectively. At the 2012 London Paralympics she finished in 5th and 6th in these events, a severe knee injury 6 weeks from the Games destroying her ambitions to medal. Intent to win a summer Paralympic medal after heart breaking campaigns in Beijing and London in 2014 Long Jump was removed from the 2016 Rio Paralympics event schedule leading to Jess’ switch to track cycling ending her athletics career.

Jess... the skiier

(2007- 2014)

In September 2007 Jess was offered the opportunity to learn to ski by the Australian Paralympic Committee after they discovered she had spent 2 winters in Vail/ Beaver Creek, Colorado on a working holiday where she had also learnt to snowboard. She jumped at the chance and found herself falling in love with alpine ski racing. After the 2008 Beijing Summer Paralympics she moved to Winter Park, Colorado to learn to ski race.

Jess has numerous World Cup wins and podiums to her name and at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics Jess along with her guide Eric Bickerton, became Australia’s first female winter Paralympic medallist when they won a bronze in the Slalom.

At the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics Jess won another bronze medal this time in the Giant Slalom with guide Christian Geiger.

Jess... the cyclist

(2014- 2019)

In August 2014 Jess was asked if she would like to try riding a tandem bicycle. Zipping around the track she instantly fell in love with the adrenalin buzz, it being somewhat similar to that of skiing. With her long term goal of becoming Australia’s first athlete to medal at a summer AND winter Paralympics and with Long Jump removed from the Paralympic event schedule meaning she could no longer compete in athletics Jess made the decision right there. She was becoming a cyclist.

In March 2016 Jess made her debut for Australia in her third sport and alongside her tandem pilot Madison Janssen they became WORLD CHAMPIONS in the Tandem Match Sprint breaking the flying 200m World Record in the process clocking 11.045s. They also won a bronze medal in the 1km Time Trial.  Later that year at the 2016 Rio Paralympics they won bronze in the 1km Time Trial. This result earnt Jess the distinguished accolade of becoming the first Australian athlete to medal at both a summer and winter Paralympics.

Throughout her 2017- 2019 World Championship campaigns Jessica alongside pilots Stef Fernandez (2017) and Maddie Janssen (2018, 2019) won 3 silver and 3 2th place finishes. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games Jess and Maddie finished in 2nd in both of their events breaking the both Commonwealth Games records in the process (these were unfortunately then broken by the gold medallists of their events).

After returning from the 2019 World Championships Jessica was removed from the Australian Cycling Team as they were unable to find a tandem pilot she could race with leading into the 2020 Paralympic year.

Jess… the rower

(2019- current)

After losing the opportunity to compete in track cycling and with aspirations to represent Australia at a 6th Paralympics Games at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics Jess realised her only chance to be there was to again, try a new sport! In mid-2019 she took to the water for the first time after taking up rowing. She is currently training with the goal of being selected to the Australian Rowing Team for the postponed Tokyo Paralympics to be held in 2021.  

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Jessica Gallagher 2 months ago

RT @visionaustralia: The @sportingnewsau list of top 100 Australian female athletes is out, and we'r...

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Jessica Gallagher 3 months ago

Yeah, that was fun. 👌🚣‍♀️ https://t.co/2dWciMJamj

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Jessica Gallagher 4 months ago

A very special thank you to our outgoing Chair @amandavanstone. It’s been a privilege working with...

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Instagram

Motivational speaking. How do you do that? 🎤 Motivational speaking. How do you do that? 🎤 

What a joy it was to speak to @emtrez for her fabulous podcast 'How Do You Do That?' We had the most incredible conversation taking a deep dive into the in's & out's of my speaking career & why  I love it so much. ❤ 

Be sure to check out all of her episodes as each week she chats to a fascinating person & I've really enjoyed hearing so many stories of how people do their thing! There is such a diverse range of 'things' I've learnt about.

You can listen via the link below or wherever you listen to podcasts! Let me know what you think! 

https://joy.org.au/howdoyoudothat/2021/01/28/jessica-gallagher-motivational-speaking/

#motivationalspeaking #keynotespeaker
Behind every Australian sportswoman, there’s an Behind every Australian sportswoman, there’s an unsung heroine who blazed the trail …

Causing a fluttering of hearts with their risqué bathing costumes in 1912, winning the hearts of cricket fans across the nation in 1958, and getting to the heart of what it means to be an Australian Sportswoman in 2021 –  the women featured in The Best, The Fairest, The First will surprise and delight you.

3 - 6 March at Gasworks Arts Park. Presented by Melbourne Writers' Theatre

As a BIG theatre fan I'm thrilled to be a part of this show. How you might ask? You'll just have to come watch to find out! 😝🎬

You can buy tickets and learn more here: 
https://www.gasworks.org.au/whats-on/best-fairest-first

@gasworksartspark #womeninsport #melbournewriterstheatre
Chucking laps with my mates the swans & ducks. Som Chucking laps with my mates the swans & ducks. Sometimes they scare me because they move out of the way too slowly but almost every time I pass one I giggle to myself & think of Billy Maddison's famous line 'stop looking at me swannnn' 🦢🦆🦢🦆 
PS. Melbourne you're so damn pretty 👌
In my 10th year as @visionaustralia ambassador whe In my 10th year as @visionaustralia ambassador whether watching from home or sitting in the crowd at the Sidney Myer music bowl Vision Australias Carol's By Candlelight is by far my favourite event of the year. It's our biggest fund-raiser to help support VA's children services. The bonus of watching from home- you can sing as loudly as you want! 🎶 Merry Christmas  everyone & enjoy the show! This pic is a  throwback to 2018 Carols backstage with Alfie & William. 🎄🎁❤
If you wish to contribute you can donate at www.givetocarols.com
Yeah, that was fun. 👌🚣‍♀️ Yeah, that was fun. 👌🚣‍♀️
When you see someone with (a visible) disability w When you see someone with (a visible) disability what do you think? Do you see the ability in disability? 
(Rembmer there are lots of disabilities that are invidible too)
Love this campaign from the Australian Government (DSS) & delighted to be a part of it. See if you can spot me! 🎿
Happy International Day of People with a Disability. #IDPWD #disablesterostypes
Load More… Follow on Instagram

Jess
Gallagher.

Summer & Winter Paralympic Medallist

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