An Israeli Skier Shines, but Does Not Compromise, at the Paralympics

The para ski team from Chile was training at Winter Park as well, and one of the Chilean coach’s daughters loved Vaspi’s skirt. One day, the girl wore one of her own on the slopes and presented Vaspi with a drawing she had made of her, with Vaspi’s fiery red hair flowing behind her as she raced down the mountain in a skirt.

Vaspi continued to observe the Sabbath, which meant that during the recent World Para Snow Sports Championships in Lillehammer, Norway, she had to skip two Saturday races.

“I am so proud of her,” her father, Einav, said in a recorded message sent from Israel after hearing that his daughter would not race on the Sabbath in China. “You train two and a half years for this day and it’s really difficult. But it is above us. It is the weather and God. The Paralympics and Shabbat together. Shabbat is bigger.”

At least Vaspi was able to race on Friday, completing her historic run while wearing the slightly noticeable skirt, which is made from the same sleek material as her suit. But for some racers who are obsessed with shaving hundredths of seconds off their times, it would be inconceivable to wear anything that could create wind drag.

Vaspi acknowledged that she is not accomplished enough to worry over the hundredths of a second that she may lose with the skirt, at least not yet. She said there is more value in wearing it, and making a statement for all faiths.

“I believe it can show all the religious people they can enjoy both worlds,” she said. “They can keep their belief and also do things that are important in their lives.”

Perhaps one day those microseconds will matter. With a little more than two years of competitive training, Vaspi’s aspirations at these Games were modest. But considering her stunning improvement in such a short time, one can only imagine what she would be able to do at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.

“Being so new to it, we’re not looking for a gold medal here,” Olson, her coach, said. “But the next games, that’s where she can make a mark. She has so much desire and is just willing to let it rip. She is power on one leg.”