3 top-tens for USA in Paralympic GS Skiing at Milan Cortina

Park City's Michael O'Hearn after his first Paralympic start in the GS at the Milan Cortina Games. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

Visually Impaired athlete Meg Gustafson, 16, and her brother, Guide Spenser, 18, came in 5th place. In the Finish Area, they spoke to English Language reporters, including TownLift. Wearing Bib number 1, she was first up on the Run 1 Start List. “It’s tricky going first, sometimes you’re the guinea pig besides the forerunners, but it’s definitely nice that you have this clean course that no one else has rutted up or anything,” She said. How did it feel to be able to stay in that podium box for a few athletes’ spots after you? “It felt pretty nice, you know, I think I set myself up for a good run two.”

Asked if their parents’ parenting style was more of parent-coaches, parent-managers, or just parents, Meg’s reply was, “Some parents get overly involved, but our parents are just the right amount involved. They push us to be our best, but they don’t force it onto us.”

Speaking of parents, Hailey Griffin is one herself, of a ten-year-old boy; she’s the only Mom in the Sisters In Sports organization. From Crested Butte and Telluride, she said skiing gates is fun, yes, but not nearly as fun as the steeps and deeps of her home hills.

“Skiers with less leg strength have challenges getting a GS ski to bend,” O’Driscoll said. “I feel totally free in my skis, though, like I don’t even notice the fact that my legs don’t work on skis. I don’t know how else to explain it. I click out of the skis, and I’m like, Oh yeah, picking my feet up is really hard, but you don’t have to pick your feet up when you’re skiing, they just stay on the ground. It’s perfect.”

Matthew Brewer, originally from California, also got to stay in the TV seat for a few athletes after his second run, to which the two-time Paralympian said, “It was a blast, the first time for me.” He’s a bilateral above-knee amputee due to Compartment Syndrome and skis for the National Ability Center. He gave a special shout-out to the NAC married couple multi-medalist Para skier Stephani Victor and her Husband, Marcel, who has been her coach. “He made me not train gates for a full year at first and simply ski, which at the time was frustrating, but in retrospect it was a brilliant strategy which has helped get me here today.”

This is Michael O’Hearn’s first Paralympics; he’s moved from New Jersey to Park City. To the press, before he lists credit the National Ability Center, Westminster University, and his family, he made sure to acknowledge the gay pride organizations he’s a part of. Next, he discussed his best friend, Emily, who passed away three years ago, a tragedy that emotionally sidelined him from skiing. “Her life and legacy then inspired me to return to this sport, so I’m so excited to be getting my first Paralympic start honoring her.”

Ravi Drugan called Park City his “second home” and is thankful for his years with the National Ability Center before moving back to his home state of Oregon.

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All photos: TownLift // Michele Roepke

Allie Johnson finished 12th, Audrey Crowley got a “DSQ”/DNF for missing the last gate after a fast run, Anna Soens and Laurie Stephens also DNFed. In the USA men’s GS, Jesse Keefe was 13th, and Patrick Halgren, Spencer Wood, and Andrew Kurka all DNF’d.

One good thing about the Men’s and Women’s events occurring on different days is that they can come to the venue to support and cheer on their counterparts.

Orlando Perez, who represents Puerto Rico and was their Flag Bearer at the Paralympics Opening Ceremony, has spent tons of time in Park City training with the National Ability Center, and was also a DNF in the Giant Slalom. The NAC has a proud tradition of welcoming athletes from South American nations over the decades, even when they may not have had a solid Winter Paralympic Organizing Committee, coaching staff, or reliable training facilities.