This March, Special Olympics Colorado athlete Catherine Darrow will represent Colorado and Special Olympics USA at the World Winter Games in Turin, Italy. She is ready to take her love for snowboarding to a global stage and inspire others with her journey.

Catherine has been competing with Special Olympics Colorado for more than 8 years and has competed in triathlon in addition to snowboarding.

“I used to ski. I was really young at the time, but I realized it wasn’t exactly for me,” she explained. “When I tried snowboarding, I realized that was more my speed… I kept getting better and better at it because I put a lot of work ethic [into it.]”

Having been on a snowboard since the age of 5, Catherine is no stranger to the slopes. “What I love most about it is that it’s an adventure,” she said with a smile. “You go super fast. It really seems to defy the laws of physics, and I like to defy those. You live by them every day but it’s nice to kind of bend the rules a bit.”

Catherine’s journey to the World Winter Games began years ago. After the 2022 World Winter Games in Kazan, Russia were canceled, Catherine was devastated and disappointed but kept pushing forward. When Italy was announced as the new host, Catherine stayed focused and gave it her all to earn a spot. She knew it may not be a given but still hoped that her time to shine on the international stage would come soon and she made it a top priority of hers.

When the announcement came that she was nominated to join the Special Olympics USA snowboarding team, Catherine knew she needed to prove herself. Before being officially selected to attend the World Winter Games, Catherine participated in Special Olympics USA Team Trials in Salt Lake City. “It was fun,” she said. “I was able to get through it by embracing and expanding my comfort zone.”

A few months later, the time came and Catherine found out she was officially headed to the World Winter Games. “I felt great,” she shared. “It’s a huge honor to be representing our whole country and it’s also nice to be representing it in different cultures and different countries.”

Catherine’s preparation for the Games has been rigorous. She trains weekly at Eldora Mountain Resort and has a weight training and even triathlon training to keep her in top form. Stretching is also important to Catherine’s training schedule as well.

For Catherine, the World Winter Games are about more than medals. “[For] people with disabilities who have been classified as a bit different from others, it’s an opportunity to show how special that makes us and how much it allows us to shine,” Catherine explained.  “We speak up and show that our disabilities are not a weakness, but a great strength of ours. They allow us to be the best we can be.”

While competing is her top priority, Catherine is also looking forward to experiencing Italy. “I’m looking forward to seeing a new country and trying new food. It’s nice to be travelling the world,” she explained. “And to be competing on the global stage and let the world know who I am.

As Catherine prepares to hit the slopes in Turin, her determination and enthusiasm are clear. Whether she’s soaring down the mountains or connecting with athletes from around the globe, Catherine is ready to shine and inspire others to embrace their own strengths.

Congratulations, Catherine, on being selected to compete with Special Olympics USA at the World Winter Games! The Games will be held from March 8 through March 16 in Turin, Italy. We can’t wait to cheer you on during the snowboarding competition!