Looking at his impressive racing accomplishments, it is surprising that Frost has four percent of his vision and 10 percent of his hearing. Yet when he hits the ice, he soars.
Won Five Gold Medals
“I won all five medals and broke three of my old world records,” he said. “The hard work is paying off. My great coach, Mike Rivet, really pushed me hard this year. Just like the old saying, ‘What you put into it you get out of it.’ I think it’s kind of cool too – to share to young athletes that it doesn’t come easy. You have to do things, you have to improve your technique – always room for improvement.” He is looking forward to going back to Russia to compete again in November.
He says winning is all about commitment and working hard. “It’s all about what you put into it,” said Frost. “There are a lot of times when I go to work out that I don’t want to work out but I have to for the sport.”
Tenth World-wide
In February, he participated in the Masters’ International Speed Skating Games in Calgary against able-bodied athletes. When he competed in same competition four or five years ago he ranked 27th. This year, there were 300 skaters from around the world and he came in 10th.
In 2009, Frost received an e-mail from the Russians saying that they were having their first open blind championship. He fundraised, got sponsors, went to Russia and won four gold and all-round sportsman medals. The Russians treated him like a king. He was impressed that people are so well-informed about sports there, the food was excellent, the people were great and they had translators.
Frost started out competing in short-track speed skating. “Short track is like roller derby,” he said. “I couldn’t hear them. I could only see skaters who were ahead of me – kind of dangerous in a way but challenging. I got involved in long track; safer sport - just two of you racing.”
Determined to have speed skating recognized by International Paralympics
Frost’s mandate is to get speed skating recognized as a sport by the International Paralympics committee, establish a foundation to help disabled athletes make their Olympics dreams come true, and travel the world making motivational talks.
“Speed Skating Canada is giving feedback to me, which is a good sign because we’re trying to get the ParaOlympics for 2014 – they have Special Olympics and the able bodied but not the ParaOlympics – which is right in the middle. So by having more world cups, more countries get involved, it’s going to happen.”
Frost suffers from Usher syndrome, a generative disorder causing hearing and vision loss. Frost was recently awarded the United Way Ottawa Community Builder award for the work he has done giving back to the community.
