Richard is a resident at St Vincent’s and this year he headed to Folgaria in Italy, to take part in the Special Olympics Great Britain National Winter Games. The games take place every 4 years and this is the first one since the pandemic.
Richard is part of the Special Olympics West Midlands Ski Group, who regularly train at Ackers Adventure dry ski slope in Small Heath. They compete in regional competitions around Great Britain against other groups for the chance to take part in the national winter games. This time Richard’s group took 20 of their 45 regular skiers, with 8 regional ski groups heading to Italy and 74 athletes competing in total.
You can see some highlights from the Games below (watch out for Rich around 50 seconds in).
"Richard has been skiing for 21 years. When he was 11 Rich went with his family and friends on a ski holiday to Morzine in France. It was a scary start for him, on the nursery slopes, wrestling with button lifts, learning to control his skis but Rich was brave, stuck at it, and by the end of the week was relatively safe on a pair of skis and liked it. Rich enjoyed the social side of a ski holiday and being with lots of other children. Soon after we found out about WMSO Ski Group, Rich started going regularly, and with the support of the brilliant volunteer coaches, his skiing improved and progressed which enabled Rich to be ready for action and enjoy further ski holidays with family and friends."
Every winter Rich’s ski group go to Pila in Italy for a training week with plenty of ski time, racing and socialising. Richard has been several times and it has become his annual trip, enabling Rich to continue to have a ski holiday, independent of his family. One of the things Rich did miss while he was in Italy competing was a beer as the team don’t drink while taking part in the Olympics. We hope you enjoy a beer to celebrate your amazing achievement now you’re back home. Congratulations – we are all so proud of you!
2 Gold medals!
Richard won his gold medals for competing in the Giant Slalom and Slalom in the intermediate male category. When asked how he felt about his win, Rich said “Brilliant, I didn’t expect it at first”.
One of the things Rich did miss while he was in Italy competing, was a beer as the team don’t drink while taking part in the Olympics. We hope you enjoy a beer to celebrate your amazing achievement now you’re back home. Congratulations – we are all so proud of you!