Michael O’Hearn
"Representation is not passive. It creates visibility, and visibility creates momentum. That momentum is what changes perception over time." – Move United Brand Ambassador Michael O'Hearn
O'Hearn is a 2026 Paralympian. He made his Games debut in giant slalom at Milano Cortina, competing in the LW9-1 classification.
Born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC), O'Hearn learned to ski independently before he ever took his first steps. He was introduced to adaptive skiing at age three through the Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) in Windham, New York. Skiing gave him a sense of freedom, expression, and possibility. Over time, that freedom grew into purpose, discipline, and a pursuit of high performance.
O'Hearn went on to train and race full-time with the National Ability Center (NAC) in Park City, Utah. Both ASF and NAC are Move United member organizations. He has competed for more than seven years across slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and downhill. In that time he has earned four top-five finishes at national championships, six FIS podiums, and nine NorAm top-10 finishes. In 2025, he won the men's title at the Huntsman Cup. By mid-season 2026, he was among the top nationally ranked athletes in giant slalom, which earned him his spot on Team USA.
A wide community has shaped O'Hearn's journey. It includes his mentors, Paralympian Tyler Carter and No Barriers USA founder Erik Weihenmayer, and Paralympic guide Kim Seevers. It also includes his coaches, the connections he made at The Hartford Ski Spectacular, and the family and friends who, in his words, "saw stars where statistics saw ceilings."
Beyond the mountain, O'Hearn is a speaker on resilience, representation, and leadership. His 2026 engagements included a keynote at Goldman Sachs in Salt Lake City and a conversation on inclusive design at Gatorade's headquarters. He serves as an LA28 Athlete Fellow, bringing an athlete's perspective to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He is a 2024 graduate of Westminster University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with an Honors degree. He has also contributed to national conversations on disability and LGBTQ+ representation.
As a Move United Brand Ambassador, O'Hearn hopes his story helps open doors for the next generation. He wants to show that no one has to compromise their identity to reach the podium.
Sports
- Adaptive Skiing
