Mel Perrine returns to the Para Alpine circuit as a physio

Retiring from elite level competition can be a difficult experience for any athlete and a critical moment of change, as they negotiate a new period of their life after sport.

Melissa Perrine, Australia’s first and only female Paralympian to compete in four Winter Paralympic Games, decided to end her decorated career after the 2022 Beijing Games, where she carried the Australian flag at the Opening Ceremony alongside fellow Para Alpine skier Mitchell Gourley. 

It was the final act of an inspirational journey spanning well over a decade, a time during which Perrine won two bronze medals at PyeongChang 2018, along with four gold, four silver and four bronze World Championship medals, to become the most-decorated Australian winter para athlete.

Not even two years on from her last competition, Perrine - who is a qualified sports physiotherapist - was invited to re-join the Australian Para Alpine team, this time as a service provider. Her first assignment as a sports titled physio with the Australian wintersport network will start this month.

“I am really excited to be returning to the circuit,” said Perrine, who is currently living in Manchester with her partner.  “As a physio I love working with athletes and helping them reach their goals.

"That I have the opportunity to do that now with athletes that also share my passion for skiing is fantastic.”

Perrine was very active off the snow during her skiing career, and always valued the opportunity to develop professional and recreational interests outside of ski racing. As such, she was a tangible example of the benefits of holistic athlete development - incidentally one of the commitments of the Win Well pledge taken by Australian sport leaders, including Snow Australia, on the runway to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

“I knew that I wanted to be a physio right from the start,” Perrine confirmed. “When I first joined the team, the majority of the team members were studying a degree or pursuing career training and I saw it was accepted and encouraged. 

“The understanding of both my university and the winter sports system allowed me to qualify as a physio in 2017.”

Despite the success of her physio career, which also included a stint working alongside the Australian goalball teams at the IBSA World Games last August, Perrine is not one to rest on her achievements. She is currently enrolled in a Masters in Sports Medicine degree through the University of Melbourne, and has started competing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu again.

“Now that I have the time to dedicate to it,” explained Perrine. “I kept active, training and occasionally competing in judo, mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu throughout my ski racing, which gave me a physical focus without the pressure of elite competition. 

“I guess continuing to explore my interests outside of ski racing has allowed me to build a complete and fulfilling life after retirement,” she said, adding that the year after leaving ski racing and the transition into a new way of life hasn’t always been the easiest.

“I worked closely with a sports psych and had a great support network,” she said. “One lesson I learnt is that it's okay to miss it, and that you need to give yourself space and time to grieve that part of your life.”

Perrine is now looking forward to returning to the snowsport community, giving back to a sport that has seen her so successful in the past. For the current and next generation of Australian Para Alpine athletes, it’s a terrific opportunity to tap into the professional competence and experience of an inspirational athlete who has spent so long at the top of the sport she loved.

“It means a lot to be able to come full circle and return to the ski industry in a different capacity,” Perrine said.

“I am really excited to support the team in any way I can.”