Ralf Etienne, a survivor of the devastating 2010 earthquake, has become the first athlete to represent Haiti at the Winter Paralympic Games, competing in para-alpine skiing in Italy.
Historic Debut
Ralf Etienne is the first-ever athlete from Haiti to compete in the Winter Paralympic Games.
Earthquake Survivor
Etienne lost his leg during the 2010 Haiti earthquake and has since transitioned from a banker to an elite athlete.
Sole Representative
He is the only athlete representing Haiti at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, competing in the men's giant slalom standing event.
Ralf Etienne made history as Haiti's first-ever Winter Paralympian during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Italy. The athlete, who is the sole representative for his nation, competed in the para-alpine skiing men's giant slalom standing event. His participation marks the first time the Caribbean nation has been represented at a Winter Paralympic competition since the inaugural games. Etienne completed his runs on the Italian slopes, solidifying his place in Haitian sporting history as a pioneer for winter sports in his country. The 2026 Winter Paralympics are being held from March 6 to March 15 across various venues in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Etienne is a survivor of the 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti, a catastrophic event in which he lost his leg. Outside of his athletic career, he maintains a professional life as a banker, a detail that has highlighted the diverse backgrounds of competitors at the games. The transition from the recovery efforts in Port-au-Prince to the alpine mountains of Europe has been described by international media as a symbol of resilience. He was selected to carry the Haitian flag during the opening ceremony held at the Verona Arena on March 6. His journey to the Paralympics comes exactly 16 years after the natural disaster that changed his life.
The athlete's presence in Italy has drawn significant attention to the challenges faced by para-athletes from nations without traditional winter sport infrastructure. As the only member of the Haitian delegation, Etienne managed his training and qualification process to meet the standards for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). His performance in the giant slalom standing race was the culmination of years of preparation following his injury. „I'm making history” — Ralf Etienne via The New York Times Haiti first participated in the Paralympic Games at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing. Since then, the country has sent small delegations to several Summer Games, but had never qualified an athlete for a winter edition until 2026. The 2010 earthquake, which led to Ralf Etienne's injury, caused widespread destruction in Haiti and resulted in a significant increase in the population of individuals with physical disabilities. The Milano Cortina 2026 Games represent the 14th edition of the Winter Paralympics and the second time Italy has hosted the event, following the 2006 Games in Turin.
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