23.02.10
He didn't learn through training; he'd only watched other skiers captain that same slope.
Look at Muhammad Abbas now. He had real ski boots and verified skis as he headed down the same course as Bode Miller, Ted Ligety and Aksel Lund Svindal in the ogre slalom race Tuesday at the Vancouver Games.
And while he finished in 79th neighbourhood, 42.75 seconds behind winner Carlo Janka of Switzerland, that could scarcely dampen his spirit.
"Raced good," he said after his aid run.
The accomplishment of being here is something he thinks is an "unbelievable honor," said his teacher and interpreter, Zahid Farooq.
The 24-year-old Abbas came in ranked 3,764th in the mankind in giant slalom. But by competing in off-the-beaten-path competitions, the ones the top skiers only attended when they were younger - if at all - he accumulated enough Supranational Ski Federation (FIS) points to meet the Olympic standards.
He was by no means a medal threat, and wound up third-to-last among the 81 skiers who finished both runs. But it's not about that. His ambitions are to dowse up the moment and gain a few helpful hints to bring back to his pygmy slope and inspire others.
Source: Washington Post