Skier to make history in Vancouver21: 06 26/02/2010, Lawrence Donegan, disability, characteristics, guardian.co.uk, skiing, society, sports, Winter Ol

Skier to make history in Vancouver21: 06 26/02/2010, Lawrence Donegan, disability, characteristics, guardian.co.uk, skiing, society, sports, Winter Olympic Games 2010, Guardian Unlimited

The almost blind skier from Canada said that competing in the 50km cross-country really is taking the part for him

The multiple medal winners, cats glamorous hills of the Alps, Vonns Bode Miller and Lindsey, have given glory and dollars of the sponsors, but more likely is that a Canadian cross country skier with a modest ambition, could sneak into the last minute and take the unofficial title as "athlete of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

On Sunday, Brian McKeever, the first athlete to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, will have the opportunity to stand alongside the best in the world in the men's 50km cross-country skiing. There is likely to win gold, but since it takes less than 10% of his vision of the importance of timing is not where it ends, only that it competes.

"The Olympic Games, in its ideal, it is the world's athletes, who come together and compete on fair and equal conditions," said McKeever. "That's really beautiful.'s Really about taking part." A beautiful thing indeed.

McKeever, a multi-medalist in the Paralympics, which normally competes with his brother Robin as his guide, but tomorrow will be on their own - a daunting prospect for those involved in the start of the 50km mass, but rather almost unthinkable for Canada, which has limited peripheral vision. "It starts can be crazy, but it is a kind of organized chaos at times," he says. His tactic will be to find a place and then follow the athlete before him along the route. "The main thing will be to remember the other skiers are there to help, but to beat me."

Twelve years ago, McKeever - a highly qualified cross country skier at the time - was diagnosed with Stargardt's disease, a genetic disease that affects central vision ( "I see the donuts - not the hole in the middle"). His father also has the disease. Two years later he was declared legally blind.

"After the diagnosis of all these emotions rushed and tries to make sense and sometimes fear the worst. But I looked and saw my father never stopped him. I realized that not be a limiting factor and it best is just to live life. To be honest with you, do not think this is much better away from me,''he says.

Five Paralympic athletes have competed in the Olympics, but all have been summer-sport athletes, including American runner Marla Runyan, who, like McKeever, suffered from Stargardt. She finished eighth in the 1500m final 2000 women.

McKeever earned his place in the Canadian team in December after winning a race of 50 kilometers can body in Alberta. His selection was announced in January, and the media in the world fell in Vancouver, the skier was overwhelmed with requests for interviews. "It was clear immediately that this is no longer a nice story Canadian cross-country skiing," says Chris Dornan, the press officer of the Canadian cross country ski team. "Everyone, but everyone called".

And what those who called found was a humble young man, as modest as it is inspiring. "I'm not going to stand here and say I'm going to win a gold medal. I do not have the experience for that. But I can say is that I will go to the race in the best shape of my life and with So when I hit the finish line, I can say it was the best race we could have had, "he says.

Facing you are a manufacturer of history, or the suggestion that his Olympic participation is addressed to a greater truth about society and its wrong attitude to disabled athletes, McKeever is almost embarrassed. Others may make bold statements, which prefers quiet reflection. "Nobody wants to be a role model. But what I would say is that I started doing this for fun and if there is any message that is put there to keep the fun. If it does, can achieve great things."

2010 Winter Olympics
Skiing
Disability
Lawrence Donegan


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