Ethiopia Winter Olympian: The Madison Connection

This is not the first time Robel Zemichael Teklemariam of Ethiopia emerged in the international winter sports spotlight. He was at the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy four years ago representing Ethiopia. Well, he never did go away in spite of the wonder that someone from a country that does not experience snowfall will be so dedicated to a sport that feels more natural to those in cold and temperate regions of the world. While a native Ethiopian, Robel grew up in NY City where his Mom was a United Nations Development Program official, so, instead of honing his skills in the highlands of Ethiopia, Robel, carrying the long distance endurance and stamina genes of his fellow countrymen and women, learned his craft around Lake Placid in NY. Robel who was born on September 16, 1974 moved to the US in 1983 with his mother who enrolled him in North Country School, a small boarding school in Lake Placid, New York. He fell in love with skiing while there and competed in various races, ultimately winning an athletic scholarship to the University of New Hampshire. When his mother retired from the United Nation, she relocated her family including Robel to Madison. While in Madison, she opened a popular Ethiopian restaurant on Monroe Street, near Westside of Madison. Most Madisonians probably remember patronizing this restaurant that was nestled in a strip mall on Monroe Street just blocks from Edgewood College. Her entire family including Robel all worked at the restaurant during various tasks and waiting tables. Though the restaurant is now closed, Robel’s interest in skiing never dimmed even as he worked in yet another Ethiopian restaurant Buraka, on State Street, downtown Madison. On occasions, Ethiopians, other Africans and friends helped out with fundraisers to support his interest in a sport that is generally expensive. It is not a surprise that Robel remembers the support he received and still receives from Ethiopian communities abroad, including those in Madison. Roble’s tenacity and love for the sports inspired him to single-handedly set up Ethiopian Ski Association. In explaining the possibilities of the association, they echoed that for over 50 years now, Ethiopians have proven themselves successful in long distance and cross-country running evidenced by numerous gold medalists in both women and men’s competitions. They conceded that though snow does not particularly exist in the mountainous regions of Ethiopia; however that doesn’t mean that there cannot exist a winter athlete in the highest level of competition as Robel has proven this to be true. It was his dogged determination that carried him all the way to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. And now to Vancouver, Canada. The Ethiopian Ski Association in the face of all odds has a clear mission, which is “to be able to groom and organize young Ethiopian skiers who want to race and accomplish their dreams as an Ethiopian champion. This will be realized through the support of Ethiopians at home, the diaspora as well as compassionate supporters of the sport”. As the current Winter Olympics is drawing to a close, we have watched various news reports of victories, disappointments, and the perennial problem of possible violations of anti-doping laws at the games. At the end of the day, we will all celebrate the courage, ambition and ice-breaking of countries that have been under-represented in the games for reason of geography, as they are pushing through the fog to realize that skills, preparation and ambitious tenacity trump geography any day. Congratulations to all the Olympians out there and especially from those in tropical regions of the world that are boldly embracing the cold weather sports.