Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
ABC7Chicago.com: Deaf gymnast excels after move to America
A Hinsdale South High School junior from a Moscow orphanage has become an outstanding athlete despite a rare genetic disorder. He has only been involved in sports for three years.
Seventeen-year-old Aleksey Zurkowski was born without hearing nor ears. He had depressed cheekbones, a receding chin and downward slanted eyes.
Twelve surgeries have improved his hearing and facial structure, and he now excels in soccer, swimming and gymnastics.
Hinsdale South gymnastics coach Jarrod Amolsch said Aleksey's best apparatus are the high bar and pommel horse, which is the most difficult.
"Because the way you gotta control your body weight is the most difficult of all the events probably," said Amolsch.
Despite Aleksey's deafness, he is able to do everything.
"I've had deaf athletes on my teams, and they struggle when they go upside down, you know. It's just the inner ear and how it works, Aleksey doesn't. He's such a daredevil. He's almost like a cat. He likes to get in the air and figure out if he can land on his feet or not," said Amolsch.
Aleksey's adopted father, Dave, says he has always been a daredevil.
"We have a trampoline in our back yard, and I think that might have been the impetus of him getting involved in gymnastics," he said. "And he seems to take those types of events or do those type of activities very well and has a natural talent for them."
Dave and his wife, Vicki, adopted Aleksey when he was almost 12.
"He has something called Treacher Collins Syndrome, it's a genetic disorder. He was born with it. It's facial bone, his cranial facial bones were never formed properly while he was in the womb," said Vicki.
At the age of 12, he had his first of many surgeries.
"His face has been reconstructed and ears had been reconstructed," said Vicki. "He's a very handsome young man, and he was handsome before. He was an adorable child. I saw the picture of him, and I knew I wanted to adopt him, you know. He looked very (good), but to help him feel more comfortable in today's society, he wanted to have all those surgeries."
Aleksey said he feels lucky.
'I do like America," he said. "Because I can do many different things."
Although gymnastics season starts in late February, practice begins in the fall.
"The biggest goal for Aleksey is probably, you know, fixing his form," said Amolsch.
Aleksey's parents couldn't be prouder.
"He takes things on himself that are seemingly difficult even with somebody without a disability, and he overcomes the problems and he keeps moving forward, so he actually pretty inspirational to watch him," said Dave.
"I am a wonderful man," said Aleksey.
In addition to Aleksey, the Zurkowskis adopted two other children and just had a child of their own.
A Hinsdale South High School junior from a Moscow orphanage has become an outstanding athlete despite a rare genetic disorder. He has only been involved in sports for three years.
Seventeen-year-old Aleksey Zurkowski was born without hearing nor ears. He had depressed cheekbones, a receding chin and downward slanted eyes.
Twelve surgeries have improved his hearing and facial structure, and he now excels in soccer, swimming and gymnastics.
Hinsdale South gymnastics coach Jarrod Amolsch said Aleksey's best apparatus are the high bar and pommel horse, which is the most difficult.
"Because the way you gotta control your body weight is the most difficult of all the events probably," said Amolsch.
Despite Aleksey's deafness, he is able to do everything.
"I've had deaf athletes on my teams, and they struggle when they go upside down, you know. It's just the inner ear and how it works, Aleksey doesn't. He's such a daredevil. He's almost like a cat. He likes to get in the air and figure out if he can land on his feet or not," said Amolsch.
Aleksey's adopted father, Dave, says he has always been a daredevil.
"We have a trampoline in our back yard, and I think that might have been the impetus of him getting involved in gymnastics," he said. "And he seems to take those types of events or do those type of activities very well and has a natural talent for them."
Dave and his wife, Vicki, adopted Aleksey when he was almost 12.
"He has something called Treacher Collins Syndrome, it's a genetic disorder. He was born with it. It's facial bone, his cranial facial bones were never formed properly while he was in the womb," said Vicki.
At the age of 12, he had his first of many surgeries.
"His face has been reconstructed and ears had been reconstructed," said Vicki. "He's a very handsome young man, and he was handsome before. He was an adorable child. I saw the picture of him, and I knew I wanted to adopt him, you know. He looked very (good), but to help him feel more comfortable in today's society, he wanted to have all those surgeries."
Aleksey said he feels lucky.
'I do like America," he said. "Because I can do many different things."
Although gymnastics season starts in late February, practice begins in the fall.
"The biggest goal for Aleksey is probably, you know, fixing his form," said Amolsch.
Aleksey's parents couldn't be prouder.
"He takes things on himself that are seemingly difficult even with somebody without a disability, and he overcomes the problems and he keeps moving forward, so he actually pretty inspirational to watch him," said Dave.
"I am a wonderful man," said Aleksey.
In addition to Aleksey, the Zurkowskis adopted two other children and just had a child of their own.