First Haitian Winter Paralympian is also a Tar Heel

In March, Ralf Etienne ’22 walked up to the stage, Haiti flag in hand, for the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics. “I looked up and saw the Haitian flag and realized I was the reason that flag was there,” said Etienne. “I had put Haiti on the map of the Winter Paralympics. Looking back, I realized I had just made history as the first Haitian to compete in the Winter…