Alex Tomaszewski, a 15-year-old transtibial amputee from Wells, Maine, earned the title of 2009 Junior Adaptive Alpine Skiing Champion at the U.S. Adaptive Alpine Skiing National Championships in Winter Park, Colorado March 28-April 2. Capturing an impressive six gold medals, Alex dominated the competition in every event he competed in, including the slalom, giant slalom, downhill, alpine combined, super G, and NorAm downhill. Considering his impressive performance at his first appearance at Nationals, Tomaszewski is a contender for the U.S. Paralympic Ski Team, according to Hanger Orthopedic Group, Bethesda, Maryland.
Born without his leg, Tomaszewski has excelled at skiing since he first hit the slopes at just seven years old. With more than 20 medals to his name, he knows how to compete hard in a sport that requires precision, agility, speed, and inherent talent. Another critical element to his success is a high-performance ski prosthesis that snaps directly into his ski, fitted and regularly refined by Jay Roy, CP, of Portland, Maine.
“Polite, passionate, articulate, driven-Alex inspires me every day,” Tomaszewski’s longtime coach, John Freeman, said. “He will become a Paralympic athlete.”
Tomaszewski had plenty of support back home from his 11 brothers and sisters. His parents, John and Christine Tomaszewski, cultivate a supportive, positive environment at home among their children, many of whom were born with disabilities and were adopted by the Tomaszewskis from countries around the world.
