Olympic Zone: Bend Paralympian now inspires others

Oregon Adaptive Sports began about 20 years ago, started by local skiers in the Central Oregon community. Today, 20 years after competing at the 1998 Paralympic Games, one of the board members continues to prove the sky’s the limit.

Nancy Stevens was a Paralympian in Nagano, Japan, competing as a cross-country skier. When she looks back on the Games, she says it was the hardest skiing she’s ever done.

A medical error when Stevens was born caused her to lose her sight, but that didn’t cause her to lose her drive.

“I was very lucky. My family was super-supportive of me participating in any outdoor activity,” Stevens said recently. “I grew up cycling, skiing, hiking, canoeing, swimming — whatever, (it was) outdoors, I enjoyed it.”

She was on skis by age 12, but it wasn’t always easy. Stevens said it took her 12 years to join the U.S. Paralympics team.

“There were a lot of disappointments along the way,” Stevens said. “When I finally made the team for cross-country, it was pretty neat.”

The world of sports introduced her to a community she wouldn’t have met otherwise, including her ski guide, who became her eyes on the slopes. Stevens and her guide skied together for six years. Then her dreams came true when they qualified for the U.S. Paralympics Team.

“We skied the same course as the able-bodied, with maybe a few modifications, of course.” Stevens said.

Stevens came in last place during one of her events. But like the obstacles from her childhood, she didn’t let this keep her down. Now, she hopes to inspire all athletes.

“My goal is to let people, families, individuals with disability know that you can do it,” Stevens said. “You can get out, you can enjoy the outdoors, no matter what your disability is.”

Today, she’s doing just that. She spends time with other children who are visually impaired in Central Oregon and helps them try out other sports.

Oregon Adaptive Sports is an organization for people with disabilities. As the outreach coordinator, Stevens helps people break their boundaries.

“They’re checking out what their options are, and I really hope (their options include) sports,” Stevens said. “Whatever sports they choose and whatever they can offer them at OAS will make a difference in their lives so they can have just as many doors open as I have.”

One of the athletes is Zoe Furnas, who has an impressive list of sports in which she participates.

“I participate in Special Olympics. I do basketball, softball, soccer,” Furnas said. Now, she enjoys skiing. Why? “Because it’s fun and I love being in the great outdoors,” she said. “I like going downhill and feeling the wind and the snow. It’s just awesome.”

Over the past 20 years, OAS has guided more than 200 students participating in activities. Even though everyone has their own challenges, they all get back up and keep going.

“I love the interaction with other people. We have such a good time, really any time I participate in any sport,” Stevens said. “It’s kind of a team effort, and it’s building those friendships and relationships with people. Just sharing the love of the outdoors with someone else.”

If you’d like to volunteer or know an athlete who would like to participate with OAS, head to their website at oregonadaptivesports.org.