Mom, this gold's for you

Nathan Smalley doesn’t have friends. He has family.

And family, he said, is why he came home Sunday from the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria with two medals in downhill skiing — one silver, and one gold.

“That gold medal was for my mom,” said Smalley, whose mother died in 2009. “She’s the one that got me started. I’m going to keep doing this as long as possible — I love it so much.”

The 38-year-old Coeur d’Alene man has been skiing with Special Olympics for more than 15 years. He has competed a lot at the local and state levels, but this was the first time he competed on the global level.

To go to the Special Olympics, teams nominate athletes for various sports. About 70 athletes from Idaho were nominated, and Smalley was chosen to compete in downhill skiing. The competition was held March 14 through 25.

“When I saw him ski, on my best day I wish I could ski as good as he does on his worst day,” said Smalley’s coach, Gregory Quinn. “When I had the opportunity to nominate him, he was the athlete I wanted going.”

Quinn and Smalley have been skiing together for two years, though they’ve known each other through Special Olympics for six. Quinn is also Smalley’s cycling coach in the summer. Quinn said it’s been special to watch Smalley grow and is inspired by him every day.

“The first thing I learned in training is that they have intellectual disabilities, not physical disabilities,” Quinn said. “They can do whatever I can do, but better. There’s nothing he sets his mind to that he can’t accomplish.”

That determination came through during time trials in Austria. Smalley got his skis crossed and crashed part way down the course. But, he said, all he could think about was getting across the finish line in time.

So he picked himself up, skied the rest of the course and qualified. He then went on to win gold.

Smalley competed in the advanced giant slalom, where he placed first, and the advanced slalom, where he got second. Each race requires the skier to weave in and out between flags called gates. The giant slalom is a longer course.

Smalley often speaks of overcoming doubt, of rising above negative attitudes and people who say he can’t do something. Attitude is something he’s taught his coach a lot about.

“I’ve discovered a lot of myself through [the Special Olympic athletes] and their drive and passion,” Quinn said. “Nathan just inspires me.”

Smalley said the views from the top of the mountains are his favorite thing about skiing. In Austria, he said, he was so excited to be skiing in the Alps. He also got to play tourist. He explored an old castle and toured a chocolate factory.

But his best experience, he said, was making new friends.

“We didn’t speak the same language, but we understood we were there to ski and have fun,” Smalley said.

Quinn wasn’t able to go to Austria with Smalley, but Smalley's brother, Robert, and Robert’s wife, Crystal, went along to support him.

“It was an amazing experience to watch him compete. He really pushed himself to do his best,” said Robert. “You could definitely feel the emotion amongst all the athletes. We’re very proud of him for all of his accomplishments.”

Now, Smalley is focusing his efforts on becoming a homeowner. He’s getting a house from Habitat for Humanity. Part of the deal is he has to put in volunteer hours — better known as sweat equity. So this summer, he plans on working on his house.

“I’ve traveled the world and now I get to own a home,” Smalley said. “It means a lot. It’s just like going to the Olympics; you have to work at it and show yourself you can do it.”