Eritrean skier raised in Alberta qualifies for third Winter Olympics

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Shannon-Ogbnai Abeda made historical past in 2018 as the primary Eritrean to compete in alpine snowboarding on the Winter Olympics. Now, the 28-year-old is heading again to the world’s largest stage however this time, his journey carries even deeper which means.

Raised in Fort McMurray, Alta., Abeda stood out from an early age, not only for his expertise however as one of many solely Eritrean skiers in a sport the place variety is uncommon. After transferring to Calgary in 2003, he devoted himself to breaking boundaries, representing Eritrea in each the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics.

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“I just hope there’s a little Eritrean kid out there who sees what I’ve done and thinks, ‘Hey, if Shannon did it, I can do it too,’” Abeda stated.

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“During the summer, I lost a good friend of mine, he sadly passed away,” Abeda shared. “His life was cut short, and that made me think, am I truly living my dream?”

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As a substitute of retiring, he discovered renewed function. With the assist of his coaches, he pushed himself tougher than ever, securing his spot for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

“I just want to go out there and ski the best run of my life. And when it’s all over, I want to walk away knowing I gave it everything,” he stated.

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