Balancing Wall Street and the Slopes: Haiti’s Ralf Etienne Blazes a Trail at the Winter Paralympics

Etienne’s story operates at the intersection of elite sport, high-finance employment, and geopolitics. From a factual standpoint, he is targeting qualification for the three-track ski events at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy, representing Haiti for the first time in its history at the Winter Paralympics. [1] He must race in internationally sanctioned competitions, with the timeframe from late 2025 into early 2026 being critical.

On the employment front, Bank of America has facilitated Etienne’s relocation to London to address visa challenges that threatened both his career and his ability to travel. [1] This reflects growing sensitivity among multinational employers to immigration policy as a determinant of talent mobility and retention, especially for individuals whose roles may require international movement—not limited to athletes.

From a performance perspective, training with the Swiss Paralympic ski team in the Alps and recently finishing his first competitive race in Winter Park, Colorado, Etienne has cleared the threshold for eligibility but still has to accumulate further qualifying points or race finishes in Europe. [1] Given his relatively late start in adaptive skiing, age 36, there is also the physical demand of catching up to more experienced competitors.

Strategic implications cover multiple dimensions: for Haiti, representation in Winter Paralympics offers a chance to raise the country’s profile in disability sport—and inspire domestic reform in athletics and accessibility. For the Paralympic movement, Etienne’s case illustrates how diaspora athletes can contribute to national teams where internal infrastructure is minimal. Furthermore, Bank of America’s role suggests that employers may increasingly be called upon to provide non-standard support (relocation, flexible schedules) for high-performing employees with dual ambitions.

Open questions include: What specific qualifying events (locations/date list) must he compete in to secure qualification, and what are the funding or coaching resources available to him? Will immigration or visa policies, especially U.S. DHS regulations toward Haitians, continue to pose obstacles? How sustainable is this path given his age, work load, and travel? And finally, how will BofA’s internal culture and resource allocation adapt to support employees with elite sporting goals?