- Ralf Etienne, a 36-year-old Bank of America investment banker in London, is training as a one-legged three-track skier to become Haiti’s first Winter Paralympian at the 2026 Games in Italy.
- A survivor of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, he rebuilt his life through U.S. medical care, education, and an MBA before entering private-equity banking and discovering adaptive skiing.
- U.S. immigration policy shifts for Haitians prompted his move to London, where Bank of America’s support and proximity to the Alps enable more consistent training and race access.
- His bid to qualify—requiring multiple European race results—spotlights broader issues of disability access, immigration risk, and how employers and sports bodies can back nontraditional Paralympic athletes.
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Ralf Etienne’s aspiration to represent Haiti in the 2026 Winter Paralympics is a deeply symbolic and logistically complex endeavor. Etienne’s journey bridges several domains: personal resilience, global sports diplomacy, and institutional support under immigration pressure. As an investment banker at Bank of America (BA), his ability to pursue high-performance adaptive skiing while sustaining a demanding profession highlights not only personal stamina, but also the importance of both corporate and sports infrastructure accommodating dual-career athletes. [1]
Etienne’s background—surviving Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, relocating to the U.S. for medical care and education, and ultimately reaching a point of global athletic ambition—situates him as a figure embodying Haiti’s challenges and latent opportunities. His experiences underscore gaps in domestic capability: access to advanced prosthetics, high-level training, and immigration/talent retention policies. For Haiti, which has rarely, if ever, had a Winter Paralympics presence, Etienne’s qualification would represent a breakthrough in representation, capability, and national branding. [1]
Strategically, there are several inflection points. First, Etienne’s ability to qualify depends heavily on access: travel, race entries in Europe, consistent coaching, and sufficient rest amid his banking workload. Time is limited: the Games are in March 2026, and qualification requires multiple international results. [1]
Second, corporate support (Bank of America) plays a pivotal role. The bank’s agreement to relocate Etienne to London demonstrates the leverage that employers have to facilitate nontraditional athlete paths. However, such accommodations are rare, especially for highly competitive adaptive sports, which often lack deep sponsorship infrastructure compared to mainstream athletics. This may set a precedent if successful. [1]
Third, the immigration policy climate is a key exogenous risk. Etienne’s move was triggered by tightening U.S. policies affecting Haitian nationals. This creates an incentive for talent mobility: elite athletes may relocate to safer jurisdictions with better support and less immigration uncertainty. For Haitians and similar constituencies, nationality-based policy shifts have real cost to individual opportunity. [1]
Finally, from an investment banking / nonprofit / sports governing body perspective, Etienne’s journey intersects with the broader theme of inclusion in global sports and the Paralympic movement. His story raises open questions: how to scale prosthetic access in low income countries; how sports federations and international committees can support those outside traditional winter sports geographies; and how employers and governments can institutionalize support structures. His case might offer strategic lessons for corporate CSR, sports governance reforms, and immigration policy advocacy.
In sum, Etienne is more than a promising athlete; he is a test case for a nexus of policy, identity, and inclusion. His ability to compete—and to qualify—depends on multiple moving parts aligning. But the symbolic and strategic upside for Haiti, for the Paralympic movement, and for companies supporting dual-career athletes is disproportionately large compared to the risk, particularly for sponsors and institutions that prioritize visibility and social impact.
Supporting Notes
- Etienne is 36, works in private-equity banking at Bank of America in London, and is training on one leg in adaptive skiing to qualify for the three-track event at the Winter Paralympics in Italy, March 2026. [1]
- He was injured in Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, losing a leg when both were crushed; rescued and eventually relocated to Illinois for prosthetic care, then pursued college (Bergen CC, Anderson University), then an MBA at UNC. [1]
- His training began in the U.S. with adaptive skiing instructors; later connected with an experienced Paralympic coach (Monte Meier) at Park City, Utah, who encouraged him to pursue qualifying. After his first competitive race in Winter Park, Colo., Haiti officially nominated him. [1]
- U.S. immigration policy changes affecting Haitians in 2025, including restriction on green-card applications and travel risks, led Etienne to relocate to London to continue both banking career and training without visa uncertainties. [1]
- Bank of America facilitated his relocation; in London he is geographically closer to the Alps for training, though relocation cost him some training time. [1]
- He plans to participate in about 10 more European races before the Paralympics to secure enough results. [1]
Sources
- [1] www.wsj.com (The Wall Street Journal) — Dec 26, 2025