Fresh from his recent debut on the Paralympic world stage in Cortina, alpine skier Mikey O'Hearn tells us about overcoming childhood adversity and personal loss, harnessing “anatomical freedom,” the power of community, and transforming every barrier into fuel for growth.
00:00 Cortina festivals and accessibility initiative
05:54 Handling pressure in competitive sports
06:49 Injury impacting competition preparation
11:05 Discovering a passion for skiing
15:34 Discovering the flow state
18:22 Training at Adaptive Sports Center
22:32 Returning to the sport with purpose
24:18 Parental support and encouragement
28:38 Breaking stereotypes in sports
34:07 Coming out with the alchemy stick
38:23 Facing bullying after coming out
40:59 Discovering alchemy in Nepal
44:31 Overcoming adversity and personal growth
48:39 Pursuing international ski racing goals