Born in Colombia without a left leg, Oliberth Reyes never imagined he would ski let alone train for the Winter Paralympics. But the 33‑year‑old’s life has transformed dramatically over the past year, taking him from Sydney to the Snowy Mountains as he pursues an unlikely sporting dream.
Reyes first encountered adaptive skiing at a para‑sport event last year, where coaches immediately recognised his natural talent for one‑legged alpine skiing, a discipline he had never heard of. Within weeks, he was training with Paralympic development coaches on the slopes of Perisher, quickly becoming fascinated by the sport’s speed, balance and technical precision.
Growing up in the Colombian mountains, snow sports were unimaginable. Reyes instead devoted his youth to swimming, later expanding into climbing, rowing and wheelchair racing after moving to Australia in 2018. His coaches encouraged him to rollerblade as a dry‑land equivalent to skiing a move that helped accelerate his development.
But it became clear he needed far more time on snow. His wife, Sarah Mulcare, then pregnant, suggested relocating to the mountains. In June, just eight months after welcoming baby Luka the family packed up their Sydney life and moved to Jindabyne, giving Reyes daily access to the slopes and a genuine shot at Paralympic qualification.
His rapid rise has stunned coaches and inspired athletes across Australia’s para‑sport community. Reyes now trains full‑time in the Snowy Mountains, chasing a dream he once believed impossible.
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