Alexi Salamone (born 17 June 1987 in Bryansk, Russia, Soviet Union) is a Paralympian ice sledge hockey player from the United States.[1]

Alexi Salamone
Personal information
Born17 June 1987 (1987-06-17) (age 37)
Bryansk, Soviet Union
Medal record
Men's para ice hockey
Representing  United States
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Vancouver Team competition
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Turin Team competition
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Marlborough Team competition

Early life

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Salamone was born near Chernobyl, the site of a nuclear accident that took place 14 months prior to his birth.[1] He was born with deformed legs, both of which were amputated at the Children's Institute of Prosthetics in Moscow when he was four years old.[2] Orphaned, he was adopted by the Salamones, a couple from Buffalo, New York, and moved to the United States at the age of six.[1][3]

Ice sledge hockey

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Salamone was introduced to ice sports by the Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped (S.A.B.A.H.).[1] He has been a member of the U.S. national sledge hockey team since 2003, twice representing his country at the Winter Paralympics.[4]

At the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy, Salamone was part of the American team that won the bronze medal.[2] The United States featured in Group B of the tournament and won two of their three group games; 3–0 against Japan and 6–1 over Sweden. A 1–2 defeat in the match against Germany meant the USA faced Group A winners Norway in the semi-finals. The team lost that match 2–4 but went on to beat Germany 4–3 in the bronze medal match.[5]

As a part of the United States national team he won a bronze medal at the 2008 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships, held in Marlborough, USA and won a gold medal at the 2009 Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic.[1]

In 2010 he competed at his second Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, where USA won gold. They beat Japan 2–0 in the final.[2] Salamone scored the first goal in the final and overall had four goals and four assists in five matches.[6]

He was not selected for the 2014 Paralympic Games.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Alexi Salamone - January 2010". Team USA. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "Alexi Salamone". United States Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  3. ^ Caple, Jim (25 March 2010). "I am living, not just existing'". ESPN. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  4. ^ Belanger, Joe (22 April 2011). "U.S. players share indomitable spirit". London Free Press. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Results Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games Ice Sledge Hockey Men". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  6. ^ "U.S. sledge hockey team shuts out Japan for Paralympic gold". USA Today. The Associated Press. 20 March 2010. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
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