Miss-Delectable
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Blind, deaf man swears by the power of positive thinking
An Ottawa man, determined to overcome his physical limitations, is in Calgary to compete against able-bodies athletes in an extremely high-speed sport.
Kevin Frost is living proof that attitude is everything when it comes to achieving your dreams.
A rare, degenerative disease has robbed Kevin of his sight and hearing – but that hasn’t stopped him from racing around speed skating tracks in excess of 50 kilometres an hour.
During races, Kevin says he can ‘feel’ the sound of the start gun when it’s fired as well as ‘feel’ his way around a speed skating track, something he’s learned with practice.
“Repetitive routine, repetitive racing creates a good memory and it’s always the same motion at every oval I go to, so I think that’s why it makes it easier,” says Kevin.
“Did I have lots of falls? Yes I did. Did I lose a lot of races? Yes I have – but you get better and better as you go along.”
Kevin, accompanied by his service dog Nemo, is competing for Canada at the 20th Master’s International Speed Skating Games in Calgary. The event draws in able-bodied skaters 30-years-old and up.
It’s a tough competition but Kevin holds his own, outskating fellow speed skater ReJan Lavoie.
A teammate of Kevin’s, Lavoie marvels at his friend’s positive outlook on life.
“He’s able to not be serious. He’s the one who should be down in his situation, but even in the situation he’s in, he’s moving ahead and he’s a happy guy.”
When he isn’t training or competing in events like the Master’s, Kevin spends his time sharing his story with students.
Kevin’s message is simple – never give up on your dreams.
“Every time you receive a negative, you give back a positive,” Kevin tells a class at Rundle College Elementary School.
“Everything you do in life, it doesn’t matter what it is, your finances, your marriage, your kids, your sporting event, you’d be amazed at how positive energy works every time.”
Kevin hopes to represent Canada at the 2014 Paralympics in Russia. First, speed skating has to be included as an approved sport in the games.
In the off season, Kevin is also a competitive rower.
An Ottawa man, determined to overcome his physical limitations, is in Calgary to compete against able-bodies athletes in an extremely high-speed sport.
Kevin Frost is living proof that attitude is everything when it comes to achieving your dreams.
A rare, degenerative disease has robbed Kevin of his sight and hearing – but that hasn’t stopped him from racing around speed skating tracks in excess of 50 kilometres an hour.
During races, Kevin says he can ‘feel’ the sound of the start gun when it’s fired as well as ‘feel’ his way around a speed skating track, something he’s learned with practice.
“Repetitive routine, repetitive racing creates a good memory and it’s always the same motion at every oval I go to, so I think that’s why it makes it easier,” says Kevin.
“Did I have lots of falls? Yes I did. Did I lose a lot of races? Yes I have – but you get better and better as you go along.”
Kevin, accompanied by his service dog Nemo, is competing for Canada at the 20th Master’s International Speed Skating Games in Calgary. The event draws in able-bodied skaters 30-years-old and up.
It’s a tough competition but Kevin holds his own, outskating fellow speed skater ReJan Lavoie.
A teammate of Kevin’s, Lavoie marvels at his friend’s positive outlook on life.
“He’s able to not be serious. He’s the one who should be down in his situation, but even in the situation he’s in, he’s moving ahead and he’s a happy guy.”
When he isn’t training or competing in events like the Master’s, Kevin spends his time sharing his story with students.
Kevin’s message is simple – never give up on your dreams.
“Every time you receive a negative, you give back a positive,” Kevin tells a class at Rundle College Elementary School.
“Everything you do in life, it doesn’t matter what it is, your finances, your marriage, your kids, your sporting event, you’d be amazed at how positive energy works every time.”
Kevin hopes to represent Canada at the 2014 Paralympics in Russia. First, speed skating has to be included as an approved sport in the games.
In the off season, Kevin is also a competitive rower.