Erin Martin

Quick Facts

• Specialty: Para Nordic Skiing (Biathlon and Cross-Country) - Sitting Classification
• Registered nurse and care manager
• Parents are Roger and Sharon Martin; has one sibling, Gerrad Martin
• Enjoys rowing, biking, camping and crossword puzzles

Biographical Information

Erin Martin's path to Paralympic competition began following a climbing accident in North Bend, Washington. While traversing a rock face before beginning a technical climb, she slipped and fell approximately 30 feet. The fall resulted in a T4 spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the mid-chest down, along with multiple fractures. Her background as a registered nurse provided perspective on her recovery, and she focused on what remained possible rather than what had changed.

Following her recovery, Martin returned to her position as a care manager at Seattle Children's Hospital. She initially took up adaptive rowing with the Seize The Oar club and riding a recumbent hand-pedaled bicycle before discovering para Nordic skiing in early 2019. She was introduced to the sport by her colleague and friend, Heather Galeotalanza, who had begun the sport after sustaining her own spinal cord injury in a rock climbing accident. Martin immediately connected with the liberating feeling of being outside and the physically demanding nature of the sport. Despite having limited cross-country skiing experience and none in a sit ski, she made rapid progress. 

Martin competed in her first national championships in January 2020 at Soldier Hollow, Utah, followed by her first World Cup event in Germany the following month. By January 2022, Martin earned third place at the U.S. Sit Ski National Championships in Bozeman, Montana, the performance that secured her qualification for the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. 

Paralympic Experience

• 2-time Paralympian
• Paralympic Games Milan 2026, 10th (12.5km Individual - Sitting - Women), 11th (4 x 2.5km Relay Open - Open, Sprint Pursuit - Sitting - Women), 14th (1km Sprint - Sitting - Women), 15th (10km - Sitting - Women)
• Paralympic Games Beijing 2022, 15th (7.5km - Sitting - Women), 16th (1km Sprint - Sitting - Women)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2025 – (Sprint Pursuit - Sitting - Women), 6th (7.5km Sprint - Sitting - Women), 7th (12.5km Individual - Sitting - Women)
• Years of participation: 12.5km Individual - Sitting - Women 2025; 7.5km Sprint - Sitting - Women 2025; Sprint Pursuit - Sitting - Women 2025
• Top finish: – 2025 (Sprint Pursuit - Sitting - Women)