- Bank of America investment banker Ralf Etienne is aiming to become Haiti’s first Winter Paralympian in three-track skiing at the 2026 Games in Italy.
- An earthquake survivor who lost a leg in Haiti’s 2010 disaster, he rebuilt his life through U.S. education, an MBA, and a private equity banking career.
- He now juggles a demanding London-based banking role with intensive training in the Alps and must meet strict qualifying standards in European races within months.
- His journey highlights how immigration policy, corporate mobility support, and diasporic identity intersect with Paralympic sport and Haiti’s global visibility.
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Ralf Etienne’s journey is striking not only for its personal courage but for the layers of policy, institutional support, and symbolic stakes embedded in it. Etienne, having survived the catastrophic 2010 Haiti earthquake—where both his legs were crushed and one later amputated—has rebuilt himself from dire beginnings into a global citizen, athlete, and professional. His educational trajectory took him from Bergen Community College to Anderson University to UNC’s business school; his rise to become a private equity banker at Bank of America is complemented by his recent parallel path toward athletic qualification. [1]
Strategically, Etienne’s path hinges on the confluence of a tight timeline (under three months until qualification races in Europe), adapting to stringent immigration constraints, and securing institutional flexibility. His nomination by Haiti as their first Winter Paralympic representative confers both pride and pressure; sustaining training amid working nights, frequent travel, remote life in the Alps, and looming visa issues is a high-stakes balancing act. Bank of America’s willingness to relocate him to London proved critical, helping stabilize his life and access to Alpine training opportunities. [1]
From a geopolitical and symbolic perspective, Etienne’s story resonates beyond sports. He exemplifies themes of diasporic identity, national representation, and the role of immigration policy in shaping opportunity. If successful in qualifying, he will alter both the narrative for Haitian athletics and the visibility of Paralympic sport for smaller nations with high emigration. Also, for firms like Bank of America—operating globally—Etienne’s case underscores how employer policies on mobility, remote work, and support for diverse identity affect talent retention and brand perception.
Open questions include: What are the precise performance benchmarks Etienne needs to meet; whether Haiti has sufficient support infrastructure ahead of Italy 2026; how visa and immigration changes might affect travel and eligibility; and how Etienne’s dual roles as banker and athlete may affect long-term health, performance, and career trajectory. Monitoring these variables will clarify whether Etienne’s aim is feasible or symbolically aspirational.
Supporting Notes
- Etienne is 36, lives in London, works at Bank of America in private equity banking, and trains with the Swiss Paralympic ski team in the Alps. [1]
- He lost his leg in the 2010 Haiti earthquake; both legs were crushed and one amputated. [1]
- He was educated in U.S. institutions: Bergen Community College, Anderson University, and the University of North Carolina, where he also earned an MBA. [1]
- He competed in his first competitive adaptive ski race in April (Winter Park, Colorado), qualifying him for potential Paralympic selection, and Haiti officially nominated him. [1]
- Due to U.S. immigration restrictions (especially for Haitians), Etienne relocated to London, aided by Bank of America, in order to protect his ability to travel for competitions and maintain his visa status. [1]
- He has less than three months to compete in international races in Europe to meet qualification criteria for the Winter Paralympics in Italy in March 2026. [1]
- Etienne remarks: “It’s a constant rotation: office, airport, mountain, back to the desk”; and “The bank didn’t hire me to be a Paralympian. It actually makes me a better banker.” [1]
Sources
- [1] www.wsj.com (The Wall Street Journal) — Fri Dec 26 2025