Arly Velasquez, the sole representative of Mexico at the
Winter Games, competes in his first international adaptive
skiing race today. Photo by Felicity Wolfe.
There are no skifields in Mexico but the country's sole
representative at the Winter Games has overcome greater
challenges to participate in the alpine sports he loves.
• Video: Watch the interview
Arly Velasquez broke his back in a downhill mountain biking
accident eight years ago.
He was 13 at the time but his youth, and the encouragement of
his mother, helped him remain positive and determined to
excel as an athlete.
"You don't feel your limits [at that age] . . . and I always
wanted a vehicle.
"I am now in my vehicle," he said.
After trying several wheelchair sports, including basketball,
tennis, javelin and shot put, Velasquez (21) discovered
mono-skiing, which took him back to the mountains.
"To return to the mountains and the sensations . . .
"I love mountain sports," he said.
Mono-skiing is an adaptive sport for paraplegic skiers who
are seated on a single ski "with kind of crutches" as poles,
using their hips to execute turns "just like standing
skiers".
Having the opportunity to train and compete with other
adaptive skiers at the Winter Games has given Velasquez even
greater determination to do well.
The Games are part of a fulfillment of a childhood dream to
"be the best" at a sport.
Although he is yet to race in his first international event,
a wildcard selection has guaranteed he will represent Mexico
at the 2010 Winter Paralympics.
"I saw I had the opportunity . . . to be in something big,"
he said.
"Now I have this opportunity, I am training a lot [to] do my
best."
Dedication is required of all top athletes and Velasquez
travels to the United States regularly each winter to train
at skifields in Utah.
When not on the mountain, he trains in the gym and uses hand
cycles to maintain fitness.
While Velasquez is concentrating on the Paralympics, he hopes
to encourage other disabled people in Mexico to participate
in sport.
"Now that I am here getting this big opportunity, I feel
really proud of my life and I have to develop these kinds of
sports in Mexico," he said.
"There are a lot of other guys in a bad situation [who need
to be] getting on with life."
Sport was also an excellent way for people like himself to
get back into life, Velasquez said.
"To sweat, to laugh, to lose, to win - that is life."
Velasquez will compete today in the adaptive grand slalom and
in the adaptive slalom on Saturday at Coronet Peak.
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