Visually impaired skier racer Meg Gustafson chases Paralympic medals with her brother as guide

Sibling Bond Guides Visually Impaired Para Skier Toward Paralympic Glory

In the snowy mountains of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, a unique brother-sister partnership is capturing attention at the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games. Sixteen-year-old Meg Gustafson, a visually impaired Para ski racer, is navigating challenging alpine courses with the guidance of her 18-year-old brother Spenser, demonstrating how family bonds can translate into athletic success.

The duo recently delivered their strongest performance yet, securing fifth place in the giant slalom in the visually impaired classification. They now look toward Saturday’s slalom event—Meg’s strongest discipline—where medal hopes run high. Her Paralympic campaign has already been impressive, with sixth place in the downhill, seventh in the Alpine combined, and eighth in the super-G.

Meg was born with a genetic disorder affecting the ligaments in her eyes, resulting in tunnel vision. At age 12, she experienced a fully detached retina requiring four surgeries, followed by two more operations on her other eye. Today, she has just seven degrees of vision, significantly impacting how she approaches each race.

“I prefer him straight in the line of where I’m going to ski because I can only either focus on him or the gate. I cannot see both at the same time,” Meg explains, describing their tailored approach to the guide-athlete relationship.

Their communication system is both sophisticated and straightforward. Spenser skis about one gate ahead, wearing distinctive orange snow pants and jacket to stand out against the white backdrop. He provides real-time instructions through Bluetooth headsets, offering simple but crucial cues like “left-footed hairpin” to alert Meg to challenging gate configurations ahead.

“I’ll remind her to stand tall and get her hips up, stuff like that,” Spenser says, highlighting the technical aspects of his guidance role.

The responsibility on Spenser’s shoulders is immense. If he falls or gets too far ahead, Meg’s run could be compromised or even disqualified. “I can’t crash. I can’t lose a ski,” he notes. “I have my bindings probably turned up way too high because I’m too scared of losing a ski.”

Meg jokingly adds, “Yeah, I think that’s when the sibling rivalry would really come out.”

Their journey began on the modest slopes of Hyland Hills Ski Area in Minnesota, where they honed their skills during childhood. Family vacations to Colorado’s more challenging mountains provided opportunities for Meg to chase after her older brother, establishing a pattern that would eventually evolve into their current partnership.

The Gustafson family eventually relocated to Colorado, where both siblings joined the Ski and Snowboard Club Vail. Even with her visual impairment, Meg initially competed against able-bodied racers. Their introduction to Para skiing came through Erik Petersen, the competition center director at the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park, opening a new pathway that quickly led to international competition.

Their rise in the Para skiing world has been rapid. Meg won seven International Ski Federation (FIS) races in the lead-up to the Paralympics, with her brother helping guide the way throughout this impressive streak.

“It’s definitely a collaboration,” Meg emphasizes. “Ultimately, if he skis a different line than I take, I’m typically going to follow him. I rely heavily on his line. So if he says this is the fastest line, I am going to trust him on that and follow his line.”

What makes their partnership particularly effective is the candid communication that comes naturally to siblings. They aren’t afraid to speak their minds when necessary, creating a dynamic balance of trust and honesty.

“Definitely can be antagonistic,” Spenser admits with a smile. “But I think the sibling combo is one of the more effective combos of visually impaired guide-to-athletes. You’re not afraid to tell the other person what you think, which is important. And they also know the athlete. They know what’s going to push them too far and what’s not going to be the best for their performance.”

While guiding his sister at the Paralympics, Spenser maintains his own athletic ambitions, including hopes to compete in collegiate ski racing. Nevertheless, he describes the Paralympic experience as “super-cool.”

The sentiment is shared by his younger sister. “It’s incredible that I get to compete with my big brother,” Meg says. “It’s a great experience.”

As they prepare for their final event at these Games, the Gustafson siblings exemplify how family support and mutual trust can overcome significant challenges, offering an inspiring example of collaboration that extends well beyond the Paralympic slopes.