TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Over the past few weeks, you have probably heard countless stories of Olympic athletes and how they got to where they are today.
As the 2022 Winter Olympic Games come to a close, one athlete who has local ties is sharing his journey. Cole McDonald, at the age of 18, became the youngest American male mogul skier when he competed in Beijing at this year’s Winter Olympic Games.
McDonald’s grandfather actually owns the Asian Market on Wabash Avenue in Terre Haute, and his mother received her master’s degree from Indiana State University. He and his mother now live in Park City, Utah, which is where his ski journey began.
However, he and his family said that journey is nowhere close to being over.
Skiing started off as just a hobby for Cole McDonald at the young age of 7.
“It was a fluke thing,” Cole’s mother, Hong McDonald, said. “You know, I have two boys and they just needed to do something outdoors living in Park City.”
Hong said that the world of skiing was unfamiliar to her since she grew up in Indiana with her father, Phon Ly.
“I really just fell in love with the competition aspect of the sport and how competitive it can be and how you’re always striving to do your best or have that perfect run,” Cole said.
Hong said that Cole liking the sport, let alone being good at it, was just the luck of the draw.
“He loved the jumps and he loved the moguls,” Hong said. “I mean, it was weird to see him skiing naturally without any lessons and being on the chair lift, people would like turn around and look at him because he was so beautiful skiing down, such a natural.”
Cole’s grandfather owns the Asian Market in Terre Haute and said he has watched Cole ski many times.
“You have to bum in the snow and then jump and then split a couple of turns in the air and the keep going,” Phon Ly said.
Cole said he started competing and taking the sport seriously in his teenage years and that he had his eyes set on one day going to the Olympics.
However, Cole and his family did not think that was going to happen this time around.
“There were 7 boys above him, and they take 4 kids to the Olympics,” Hong said. “So, he was sitting eighth out in America so there was a far chance that he would make it to the Olympics.”
But then in one competition in Sweden, Cole won the entire thing.
“Which is nuts, like, holy cow,” Hong said. “Who does that, right? Especially as an 18 year old.”
Cole said the win motivated him.
“I ended up getting my first world cup start and just, from then on just kept improving and was putting out results higher than a lot of other athletes,” he said. “And then, towards the end, I had just barely enough points to make it into the Olympic team.”
Cole’s grandfather said he is beyond proud of him, regardless of what he placed.
“He flies in the air and he does it so so well,” Phon Ly said.
Cole said his family was supportive when it was just a hobby and that they are just as supportive now.
“They’ve never told me I should stop skiing or that I need to do something else,” Cole said. “They’ve always been super supportive and really believed in me that I could get to this level.”
Cole did not end up bringing home a medal from Beijing, as he placed 14th in the finals. He said he would like to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics and will continue to train and participate in more competitions leading up to that.
