William C. FLAHERTY

Rico. (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021)

Hanging out with friends, four-wheel off road adventures. (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021)

Athlete, Student

Attends Laurel Springs School, an online educational program. (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021)

Mother, Ann Flaherty. Brother, Charles Flaherty.

English, Spanish

Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (USA)

Personal: Sara Radamus (USA)

Older brother Charles Flaherty (Alpine skiing): Competed for Puerto Rico at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games (first PUR winter Olympian since Salt Lake 2002) and two Junior World Championships (2017, 2019).

2020 FIS event in Copper Mountain (Giant slalom - 45th)

Side effects of chemotherapy from a bone marrow transplant when he was three have caused a multitude of medical problems for him and in his skiing career. His older brother Charles, then just eight, donated blood marrow for the transplant in 2008 to combat a disease, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (otherwise known as HLH), which has a very low chance of survival. Since then he has endured chemo, steroids, a transplant, and a multitude of long-term effects from the treatments. Has survived over 75 blood transfusions and over 20 surgeries. Skiing, exercise, sun, and fresh air have played a major role in restoring his health. (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021; icla.org, 8 Feb 2018)

2014

Growing up, his family would take a week-long skiing vacation every year from when he was five years old. He first learned to ski at Beaver Creek (Colorado) in 2010. The family moved from Cincinnati to Puerto Rico a year later but continued to take ski vacations. (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021)

"My brother and I loved the adrenaline rush of skiing so much that when I was 10 we started racing. The rush and sensation of freedom that I get from skiing never fails to excite me." (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021)

"To ski to the best of my ability." (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021)

Spends summers in the gym in Puerto Rico and winters on snow in Colorado, living in Edwards, CO and training with Ski & Snowboard Club Vail. (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021)

Finishing 48th at the 2021 Junior World Championships in Bansko. (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021)

Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), two-time Olympic and six-time World champion.

Alpine skier River Radamus (USA), three-time 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games champion, the son of his coach Sara Radamus (USA). (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021)

His older brother, Charles, who competed at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021)

None. (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021)

"Sports are an amazing thing because they are something that can unite the whole world and surpass the boundaries of any politics that might be causing a divide." (Athlete, 25 Oct 2021)

Selected as an opening ceremony flagbearer for Puerto Rico at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.