Haiti and snow are as far from partners as can be. But for Richardson Viano, Haiti’s first winter athlete, snow was love at first snowflake.
At age 3, Viano was adopted by a couple who lived in the French Alps. As a scared child in an extremely unknown environment, Viano was petrified on the plane trip from the Caribbean to France to be with his new parents.
But when the first snowflake hit his face, everything was ok.
“I said, ‘Look Richie, this is where you are going to live,’” recalled his mother in an AP story about that moment when he experienced his first snowfall. ”‘See the snow and everything?’”
The snow, dubbed “the magic powder” became his friend and the place where his father taught him how to ski.
“My dad was a mountain guide and he put me on skis as soon as I arrived, in 2005, and I’ve skied pretty much all the time ever since,” said Viano. “It really is a passion.”
Now the 19-year-old is competing at the highest level against top talent from all across the world at the Winter Games in Beijing in the men’s giant slalom.
Unfortunately, the magic powder wasn’t kind to Viano and his fellow competitors. Heavy snow and fog brought treacherous conditions, leaving 33 of the 87 skiers unable to complete the first of two runs.
His next chance on the slopes is this Wednesday in men’s slalom. And even if things don’t go his way, he’s already an inspiration like fellow Caribbean winter Olympian, Benjamin Alexander. The Jamaican skier fell in love with skiing while DJing and Canada, and just finished 46th in the men’s giant slalom.
Richardson Viano is proving to his fellow Haitians that no matter where you’re from, you can do what many think you’re unable to.
“If other Haitians can ski, that would be incredible,” he said. “I want to give them a message of hope, of strength, no matter the sport. What’s important is to never give up, to fight. Anything can happen if you believe.”
