First-place finishes for Frost facing fellow blind speedskaters

He set four new world benchmarks for speedskaters with a visual impairment – all personal-best times as well – in winning the 3,000 metres in four minutes, 52.27 seconds, the 1,500 m in 2:15.08, the 1,000 m in 1:24.75 and the 500 m in 43.25 seconds. “Four world records and four gold medals – yeah, I’m a little surprised it all happened that fast,” laughs Frost, whose participation in the Nov. 23-25 event was in limbo up until a few weeks beforehand due to funding troubles. “That was my first competition of the year, and usually you peak at the end of a season. I guess my conditioning did me well in this race.”

Frost – who suffers from Usher’s Syndrome, a degenerative condition that gradually reduces his sight and hearing – was classified in B2, but had faster times than even the B3 competitors who have more vision than him.

Forty-eight skaters in total took part, and the ones that really touched Frost were the B1 athletes who had no eyesight at all. “I bowed to the totally blind speedskaters,” Frost notes. “They were six or seven seconds behind me, but that’s just amazing.”

The Russians who invited Frost to the event earlier this year took particular interest in his FM system that allows him to communicate with his coach during the race since their guide leaders barked out directions on the ice without any technological help. “What I was really impressed with the Russians is that they’re way ahead of us for rules, participation and organization,” Frost adds. “They’re going to be the prototype for the rest of the world.”

Another big plus from the event for Frost was he learned a Russian group composed of government representatives as well as blind and sporting associations officials will meet with the International Paralympic Committee next week to present speedskating as an option to be a demonstration sport at the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games.

Demonstration sport status means the sport doesn’t have to meet the same stringent standards on international participation as a full-medal Paralympic sport since the organizing committee can stage the events it wishes. “You need events like this to make it happen,” Frost notes. “It’s a stepping stone.”

Frost will continue to race against able-bodied athletes this season in hopes of raising awareness about his Paralympic discipline, although he’s certainly looking forward to future trips to Russia for what hopefully becomes an annual event. “I’d like to go back every year and hopefully defend my title. And then hopefully in 2014 I’ll do the same thing as the first one,” the 42-year-old says. “I know I have a lot of gas still, and I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been.”

Frost has been working towards having speedskating included in the Paralympics since he started skating, so the moment he stood atop the podium and heard the Canadian national anthem after his first race against fellow athletes with a visual impairment was quite special for him. “I was thinking about all the ups and downs through the eight years,” Frost recounts. “It shows that you have to drive towards the goal to make your dreams come true. It doesn’t come easy, but when you make it that far, you appreciate what you’ve done.”