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While reaching the Olympics is one of the hardest feats for any athlete, blind skier Todd Taylor isn’t letting negativity stifle his dream to ski in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Although he has his sights set on the Paralympics, he’s hoping to make times that would qualify him for the US Ski Team and allow him to travel to China as a representative of the United States reports KPNX.
From childhood, Todd’s favorite sport has remained skiing. However, two years ago doctors discovered that Todd suffered from a disease called retinitis pigmentosa. The disease eventually causes the retinas to deteriorate, resulting in a loss of peripheral vision. To put it in perspective, most people’s scope of vision is near 180°.
Todd’s eyes only see between 6°-7° of central vision, which is considered legally blind.
As a child, he skied around the mountains of Utah but has recently skied at Vail due to their extensive guide program, Foresight Ski Guides. That said, guide service for Olympic training regiments isn’t cheap. Luckily people are already sharing Todd’s dream as his funding page has already raised $7,215.00 of the $15,000 goal.
Give Todd His Olympic Shot Here:Â Todd Taylor Paralympic Ski Racing