Frost beats personal best times at open long track meet



Kevin Frost, who has Usher Syndrome, broke some of his own personal records Saturday. (Photo: Allendria Brunjes)

Kevin Frost, who has Usher Syndrome, broke some of his own personal records Saturday. (Photo: Allendria Brunjes)

Published on February 9, 2011
Published on February 9, 2011
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Deaf-blind speed skater takes to the ice for great conditions

The Ottawa Pacers Speed Skating Club converged at the Brewer Park oval last Saturday for an open long track meet, and deaf-blind speed skater Kevin Frost from Orléans used the chance to get on the ice, beating his personal records.

Topics :
Russia

The weather was fantastic, he said, adding the "ideal conditions" gave him two of his personal best times, in the 1,500-metre category and the 3,000-metre race.

"The ice was very fast, and the conditions awesome because there was no wind," he said. "It is the ideal way of racing in the outdoor world."

Because the meet was open, Frost was up against skaters half his age.

"It's a mixed group from young to old, a mix from the youngest at about 10 and the oldest is about 55," he said.

Although Frost started losing his hearing at 11 and vision at 30, he wasn't diagnosed with Usher Syndrome, a condition causing deafness and blindness, until he was 32.

He said he doesn't let it get him down; indeed, it motivates him. He noted that the condition has not progressed in five years.

"It gives me the incentive to do more than I ever have," he said.

He also uses his life as a way to teach people and does motivational speeches. Frost said he also likes to help a child every year with life, whether one who was blind and needed a computer for school or another who needed cancer treatment.

"I've transferred my energy into new things where I am travelling the world with very little income but a lot of support," he said. "My energy helps other people get their energy going."

Frost said he's eagerly awaiting an invitation to go back to Russia April 12-17.

"That will be the open blind championship, where I won four golds and set four world records," he said. "I want to go back and defend my title. To me, that's a good stepping stone for 2014 for Russia, because then they can get the sport sanctioned."

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