Aaron Pike

Started: He began wheelchair racing in 2006. (fasterskier.com, 23 Nov 2021; paralympic.org, 11 May 2018) Reason: An armed forces veteran visited him in hospital and introduced him to Para sports including wheelchair racing. "I went out to watch a practice. He had a group of six or seven other kids out there, and he brought a chair out for me to try. And it all just went from there." (fasterskier.com, 23 Nov 2021) Ambition: To win a Paralympic medal. (bbc.co.uk, 01 Mar 2022) Additional Info: MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE He has represented the United States of America in Para cross-country skiing and Para biathlon. "After my first time trying Nordic skiing I knew that it wasn't going to be my last time. I liked the sport immediately and knew that I wouldn't be able to give it up. So then I decided that I was going to try to balance the two sports [athletics and skiing]. I have been able to come off of the winter season and get into the racing chair and feel strong within four weeks. I would attribute that to the fact that I have been doing wheelchair racing for about 12 years [speaking in 2018]. Without that long history in the racing chair it would not be possible. It takes a long time to learn the stroke for wheelchair racing and become efficient. I would say that if I started both sports around the same time, then it would not have been possible. With this constant flow I enjoy one [sport] and then start missing the other after I've been on the one for a while. I like the back and forth. And they are very compatible, luckily." (IPC, 18 Dec 2021; teamusa.org, 18 Mar 2020; paralympic.org, 11 May 2018) ATHLETE COUPLE He is in a relationship with US Para athlete Oksana Masters, who has represented the United States of America in Para Nordic skiing, Para cycling, and Para rowing. "Oksana is incredible. We push each other, she is a force. Just waking up and having that person who is working towards the same goals and understand when you have a bad race, what that really means." (usparanordic.org, 23 Jan 2024; bbc.co.uk, 01 Mar 2022) OVERSEAS EDUCATION He attended Ramstein American High School in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany. (teamusa.org, 01 Jun 2015)

Sporting Relatives: His partner Oksana Masters has represented the United States of America in Para cycling, Para rowing, Para cross-country skiing and Para biathlon. She won bronze in the trunk and arms double sculls rowing event at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. She later competed in cycling at the 2016 and 2020 Paralympic Games, winning two gold medals at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. At the Paralympic Winter Games, she claimed a total of 14 medals in Nordic skiing between 2014 and 2022. (SportsDeskOnline, 11 Apr 2024; usparanordic.org, 23 Jan 2024)