December 6, 2005
Photo of the year
Thanks again to Nazret.com for the link to this incredible story from The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. If they haven't already got one, the Ethiopian National Ski Federation needs to form a fan club or a supporters' association. I would join. They could make milllions on the merchandising alone.
For Ethiopian, the ski's the limitAs a boy growing up in Ethiopia, Robel Teklemariam was always drawn to the mountains. So it was only natural that when he moved to Lake Placid, N.Y., at age 12 he fell in love with skiing.
Now, Teklemariam is poised to become the first Ethiopian ski racer to ever compete in the Olympics.
"I have a shot. The people I know say that I have a shot," Teklemariam, 31, said by phone Sunday after a race in Colorado that put him slightly closer to qualifying for the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy, beginning Feb. 10.
Teklemariam, who has family in Madison and spent last summer working at Fontana Sports Specialties, started planing his Olympic bid three years ago.
It was a complicated effort that included his founding of the Ethiopian National Ski Federation as well as the Ethiopian Ski Team, which so far is an exclusive club of one.
Posted by aheavens at December 6, 2005 6:26 AM
Comments
Can you inform him/them that Ethiopians in the Nordic States might be interested.
Cheers
http://www.eifs.se
Posted by: ES at December 6, 2005 10:11 AM
Love to hear such great stories.
Posted by: rebkha at January 13, 2006 3:24 AM
Is there a contact number, e-mail, or address to reach Robel? We worked together at Club Med and were so happy to see him carrying the flag last night, because we have such fond memories of him and remember when he started talking about getting to the Olympics. We're so proud of him and wish him the best of luck!
Posted by: Michele & Alfonso at February 11, 2006 5:52 PM
Robel is awesome I worked with him in Crested Butte, Colorado. He deserves this so much. I can not wait to see him take a gold in Torino.
Posted by: Dij Duerring at February 11, 2006 11:03 PM
Robel! Congratulations mate you deserve all the praise you are receiving, hope to see you kicking it hard in Torino. Inspirational effort brother, you're all over the news, the net, the media and you've earned it man. Keep in touch great man, Binnsie
Posted by: Binnsie at February 17, 2006 5:18 AM
We love you.
Posted by: Hiwot Mezgbu at February 24, 2006 5:11 PM