U.S. veteran Devlin-Young named flagbearer for Torino Paralympics

U.S. veteran Devlin-Young named flagbearer for Torino ParalympicsTORINO, Italy – Two-time Paralympian and three-time Paralympic medalist (two gold, one silver) Chris Devlin-Young has been selected to represent his country as flagbearer for the 2006 United States Paralympic team during the Opening Ceremony of the IX Winter Paralympic Games.

The Opening Ceremony will be held Friday, March 10, at the Stadio Olympico in Torino, Italy.

Devlin-Young, a member of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team for more than a decade, was chosen by the team captains of the Winter Paralympic sports because of his exceptional leadership, both on the alpine ski team and among fellow athletes. With a tireless dedication to the advancement of mono-skiing and continual improvement of his own racing, he has played an instrumental role in the evolution of the sport, which has grown to a higher level of competition over the years.

“The Paralympics have entered a whole new level for me. ‘Gold x 4 in 2006’ doesn’t matter any more. Being chosen as flagbearer is an honor I never expected, and didn’t even dream of,” said Devlin-Young. “I’ll be representing my country in the purest form. It’s not political. It’s not motivated by any gains or any losses. It’s not about being the best country out there. It’s about being a country of the world, and I’m representing my little piece of it.”

Devlin-Young remains at the top of his game at age 44. Most recently, he finished first overall in the super G 2005-06 World Cup rankings, and second in the overall World Cup standings for men’s mono-skiing.

Devlin-Young was introduced to skiing and racing at the first Veterans Administration Winter Sports clinic 19 years ago, after a 1982 plane crash while he was serving in Alaska with the U.S. Coast Guard completely paralyzed him from the knees down, and partially paralyzed him below his waist. The first U.S. athlete to win gold medals in two disability categories, Devlin-Young was Ski Racing magazine’s 2003 Disabled Athlete of the Year and was inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame along with Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Troy Glaus and San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

Having already earned a gold medal in super G and silver in downhill in 2002, and a gold medal in slalom in 1994, Devlin-Young has the opportunity to win four more medals at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games – downhill, slalom, super G and giant slalom. Devlin-Young begins competition on Sunday, March 12 with the downhill event in Sestriere.

– USSA