Haiti's First Winter Paralympian Defies Earthquake Odds to Conquer Skiing World
Image Source: Internet
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — Ralf Etienne, a Haitian banker who lost his leg in the 2010 earthquake, made history by becoming his nation's first Winter Paralympian.
Competing in the giant slalom standing race at the Milan Cortina Games, Etienne finished his first run, posting the worst time, more than 30 seconds behind the leader.
Despite the challenging conditions, Etienne was proud of his achievement, saying, 'I went from the 2010 earthquake and rubble in Haiti, to now on the top of the world with the best skiers, with the very best skiers in the world, skiing, racing, and I’m competitive.'
Etienne's journey to becoming a Winter Paralympian began after he was buried for eight hours during the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck southern Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010. He later moved to the United States to study and learn how to ski.
Now a 36-year-old banker, Etienne said people have been telling him to 'quit banking and do this full time.' However, he prefers to balance his passion for skiing with his career in finance, citing its importance in understanding how companies function and raise debt and equity.
Etienne's feat has inspired his fellow Haitians, with many calling him 'the global ambassador of Haiti.'
Looking ahead, Etienne has set his sights on winning gold in four years, saying, 'I’m going to come here to get the gold.'
