Defying the Odds at Cortina
As Davy Zyw positioned himself at the start gate in Cortina on Sunday, his gaze fixed on the snowboard cross course ahead and a tartan snood pulled high around his neck, he embodied resilience against overwhelming challenges.
Amid the rugged Dolomite mountains, Zyw's presence was unexpected.
Diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) at age 30, he was initially given a prognosis of just 18 months to live.
Yet, nearly eight years later, he has surpassed all expectations, becoming the first athlete with MND to compete at a Winter Paralympics.
"The outlook can look pretty bleak, my health is going one way," he told .
"I look at my health like I'm sliding down an icy slope and I've got to run up the other way just to maintain strength, maintain my function.
"But the pride, the positivity, the memories, the strength, the resilience I'll take from this Paralympic experience is going to fortify the rest of my life.
"When I'm unable to snowboard, looking back at my runs from the Paralympics when I turned up, despite my injuries and my disease, that is something I'll cherish and hold on to."
Early Symptoms and Diagnosis
At the time of his diagnosis in 2018, Zyw was working as a sommelier and wine buyer in London. His initial symptom was numbness in his left thumb.
He was first misdiagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and had no reason to consider the unlikely diagnosis of MND.
Statistics show that one-third of those diagnosed with MND die within a year, and half within two. Zyw considers himself among the fortunate few.
Although his disease has progressed slowly, he has lost most functionality in his hands, and the muscles in his upper body have deteriorated.
Return to Snowboarding
Returning to snowboarding became a positive focus following the dark news of his diagnosis.
He learned to snowboard as a child on a dry slope in Edinburgh and competed as a freestyler into his early twenties until a knee injury ended that chapter.
"I learned very quickly that the only aspect of this diagnosis in my control is my attitude towards it," he added.
"I couldn't affect how quickly the disease was going to manifest itself, how quickly I was going to fall off a cliff, how quickly I was going to lose motor functions.
"When I held on to that positive message, every day became easier and that's what I've done every day since."
The Davy Zyw Fan Club has been vocally supportive at the Games, waving British and Scottish flags and wearing blue beanies bearing his surname.
On a bus ride to the snowboard park, an impromptu chant of "No Davy, No Party" echoed, continuing throughout the day.
Among the supporters were Zyw's wife Yvie and their four-year-old son Aleksander, who enthusiastically cheered as his father sped past during the opening run.
Challenges and Determination
However, the opening race did not conclude as hoped. Zyw was hospitalized with two broken ribs after a severe crash, having already sustained a knee injury during official training.
The pain from his broken ribs is intense, preventing him from laughing or sneezing, yet he was determined to return to the start gate for Friday's banked slalom.
In that event, he finished 19th, but the results were secondary to the experience itself.
"Two years ago I wouldn't have been classifiable as a Para-athlete and in two years' time I'm not going to be a competitive snowboarder," he said.
"So I'm in this sort of tragic period of my diagnosis where I'm ill enough to be classified as a Para-athlete, but well enough to still be able to rip down on my snowboard.
"I'm grateful for the fact that the Games have come at this moment, because in a few years' time it wouldn't have been possible."
Advocacy and Future Plans
Since his diagnosis, Zyw has dedicated efforts to raising funds for MND-related causes, including the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, established by the late Scottish rugby player Doddie Weir.
He has completed significant cycling challenges such as the 264-mile 'High Five' route in the Scottish Highlands and a ride from Edinburgh to Rome.
Having achieved the milestone of competing at the Paralympics, he is uncertain about his next challenge.
He plans to return to Edinburgh next week, reflecting on the sacrifice of time away from his wife and son, which weighs heavily given the preciousness of their time together.
"I've received some incredible messages from carers and loved ones of people who live with MND, people who've had loved ones lost to MND, and people who have just been recently diagnosed," he said.
"I'm acutely aware I'm one of the lucky ones, so I feel very lucky to be here, use my platform and be here riding my snowboard.
"Every athlete dreams of medals, but the medal for me was to get here and represent the motor neurone disease community.
"Pulling out of the starting gate has been my ambition, my dream fulfilled."
