LAUREN Parker was on top of the podium, twice, at the Paralympics in Paris.
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Just 539 days later the Hunter star has completed a "crazy" transformation, officially named on the national team for the upcoming Winter Games in Italy.
Parker, already a four-time medallist across two different summer sports in triathlon and cycling, will become just the eighth Aussie to compete at both versions of the Paralympics.
The wheelchair athlete, who made her Games debut five years ago in Tokyo, now hits the slopes after being chosen to contest cross country skiing and biathlon at Milano-Cortina in 2026.
"So I've just been officially named part of the Australian Winter Paralympics team for cross country skiing and biathlon," Parker, 37, said in a social media video posted in the early hours of Friday morning (AEDT).
"I am so honoured to be able to represent Australia again. This time last year I hadn't even thought about doing snow sports or winter sports.
"It's just been a crazy journey. I've worked so hard for this selection and I can't wait to get out there and race over the next couple of weeks in Italy."
Parker spoke to the Newcastle Herald earlier this month before flew out for a training camp in Austria.
Following on from initial trials, training and qualification attempts last year, this latest stint overseas was her longest stretch spent in the snow.
Parker, born in Belmont and based in the Maitland suburb of Louth Park, was paralysed from the waist down after a training accident near Raymond Terrace in 2017.
She's created a long list of achievements over the best part of the following decade, most notably claiming gold medals in two different sports at the same Paralympics in 2024 and being recognised with an OAM as part of Australia Day honours in 2025.
The triathlon and cycling success at the Games in Paris occurred during the same week, completed on September 5.
Paralympics Australia unveiled the next series of winter athletes online on Thursday night.
Parker also shared a message from her sponsors Oakley on Friday.
"Every journey begins with a step," she said.
"A step to move forward to go beyond identifying where you want to go.
"To live every day, not with a dream, but a pursuit to create reality.
"To not just make history, but to stage for the future.
"To not just be celebrated in the moment, but to become an inspiration to follow in your footsteps.
"All in an effort to ignite human possibility for all. Recognise who you want to be, live where you want to go and be who you are."
Dave Miln, Matt Brumby, Taryn Dickens and Lynn Cullen were the other Aussies named in the cross country skiing and biathlon disciplines.
The Winter Paralympics get underway next week (March 6-13).
EARLIER: Champion's bid at Paralympic history less than nine months after first ski on snow
Lauren Parker's first and only snow experience came during a Contiki tour stop in Switzerland almost two decades ago.
That was until midway through last year.
Now, the Hunter champion finds herself on the verge of history and becoming just the eighth Australian to compete at both Summer and Winter Paralympics.
Parker's journey to wheelchair sports and golden Games of 2024 have been well storied, however, this latest pursuit marks a whole new chapter.
Spread across 2025 were the idea, an initial trial, and lastly qualification rounds in Canada.
Next the 37-year-old travels to Austria for a final training camp amid hopes of securing a ticket for Milano Cortina in March (6-15).
Cross country skiing and biathlon are Parker's targeted events at the upcoming Winter Paralympics, before quickly switching focus back to triathlon and cycling during a jam-packed 2026 program.
Australia's para-team for the Italian-based Games is expected to be officially announced later in February.
"I go to Austria next week for a training camp on the snow," Parker told the Newcastle Herald.
"So just trying to get as much time on the snow as possible ... practicing the skiing and the rifle shooting for biathlon.
"I'm really looking forward to it, it's exciting.
"No pressure for this one because I'm not in medal contention, anything can happen I guess, but I've only just started mid last year so just to make the team would be a big achievement.
"Maybe in four years time I'll be in medal contention, who knows, but it's a huge accomplishment [already] for such a short time doing it."
Prior to picking up the poles and skis at Perisher less than nine months ago, the proud Novocastrian recalls her sole snow trip.
"I only walked on snow once when I was 18, it was Switzerland on one of those Contiki tours you do at that age," she said.
"I never skiied or anything like that, so the first time properly was in July last year."
Parker, born in Belmont and based in the Maitland suburb of Louth Park, was paralysed from the waist down after a training accident near Raymond Terrace in 2017.
She's created a long list of achievements over the best part of the following decade, most notably claiming gold medals in two different sports (triathlon, cycling) at the same Paralympic Games (Paris, 2024).
"I also want to try out some other sports, possibly rowing - para rowing and para canoe. So see if I can do three sports at the next Paralympics," she said at the time.
"Winter sports also wants to get me involved as well, so who knows what's on the horizon."
Fast forward to 2026 and that's coming to fruition.
Outside contrasting climates Parker explains the challenge in mastering different skill sets on the snow, especially minus brakes.
"Balance is one, but just the skills on snow, because it's so slippery," she said.
"It's so different to being on a bike and having brakes, when you're on a sit ski you don't have any brakes at all.
"So when you're going downhill, sliding everywhere, plus the instability that you've got with my level of injury but also on a sit ski there's not much stability [to start with].
"There's no form of brakes at all so you've got to try and manoeuvre the sit ski with the poles to get around corners.
"You can easily crash, it's so easy to crash. It's been super scary. I've had to overcome a lot of fears.
"Especially in Canada. Apparently the World Cup in Canada I did was the hardest course on the whole circuit and it was my first one.
"So if I can conquer that, then I can do anything I guess. Italy might feel a bit easier [if selected].
"Skills on snow have been a challenge to get used to, but improving every time I get on snow. That's a huge benefit."
What else does 2026 have in store for Parker?
"I've got a massive year ahead," she said.
"I get back [to Australia eventually] and get straight into triathlon and cycling racing.
"Oceania Championships for triathlon a few weeks after in New Zealand, then Belgium and Italy for cycling World Cups.
"Home and then Montreal and Germany for triathlon World Cups.
"Home and then America for cycling World Championships and Spain for triathlon World Championships.
"So that will be my year done by October."
Parker made her Paralympic debut at the summer Games of Tokyo in 2021.
Winter events cross country skiing and biathlon both involve three separate race distances (short, mid, long).
AOC media recently reported that seven athletes from Australia have previously competed at both summer and winter Paralympic Games. This list includes the likes of Rae Anderson and Michael Milton.
