Medalists at Innsbruck

When Joe Walsh 'B4 entered Dartmouth, he had no idea that one day he would ski for the U.S. in international competition. Even further from his mind was the idea that he and his younger brother Rob, who was to enter Dartmouth with the class of '88, would compete together for their country. For both Joe and Rob Walsh are legally blind.

But in late January at the Fourth Winter Olympics for the Disabled in Innsbruck, Austria—with 22 countries represented—their hard work paid off. Rob and Joe, who compete in the "high partially-sighted category," racked up gold and bronze medals, respectively, in two nordic eventsincluding the first U.S. gold ever in a cross-country event for the disabled. Rob won it in the 15Km cross-country—in which Joe finished fourth, threetenths of a second behind the bronze medalist. And in the 30Km race Joe won the bronze, finishing one second ahead of Rob.

"A few years ago we didn't even know the (disabled skiing) program existed," Rob said recently. "We read in the paper one day at home about a girl who had won a medal in a skiing competition for the blind. So we decided to investigate."

In four years their investigation has taken them to the top echelon of international disabled skiers. U.S. Nordic coach Ted Fay has high praise for the Walsh brothers. "Both of them have the ability to win, and it's not really a surprise when they do. There are about five other competitors in the world in their class who have the ability to win also, so it's a crap shoot on any given day who'll win."

Joe did not start skiing until his senior year at Dartmouth, while Rob began as a freshman. Yet under the day-to-day tutelage of Dartmouth ski coach John Morton both have progressed rapidly. Before Innsbruck, Joe was on the U.S. "A" team and Rob was on the "B" team. At the time both were thought to be just shy of medals and top placings. That's likely to change and Rob will almost certainly join Joe on the "A" team for future competitions.

What's next for the Walshes? The World Championships for the Disabled will be held in 1990, and the next World Disabled Games in 1992. In the meantime there's a full calendar of races, including the Subaru/United States Skiing Association Cross-Country Championships held in March.

The winners and their guides. At left is Herve Gerant '90, who guides Rob Walsh '88,second from left. Next is Joe Walsh '84, and at right is his guide, Max Cobb '87.