Doug Keil
Recreation/Development | 2003
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
School Name: Challenge Alaska
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Doug’s family relocated to Alaska where Doug was active in various sports including skiing. When he was 15 years old, Doug and a friend were exploring an abandoned gold mine when he came in contact with a 24,000 power line, resulting in the loss of an arm and a leg. He then spent the next two years in and out of hospitals doing his rehabilitation. Once out, someone in their church told his parents about a program in Winter Park, CO where they were training athletes to ski with disabilities. The first day he was there coincided with the first day of what was then called the National Handicapped Championships. After Doug witnessed this event, he became dedicated to becoming an elite skier.
Doug returned to Winter Park in 1977 and 1979 to compete in the U.S. Disabled Ski Championships, which qualified him for the 1980 U.S. Disabled Ski Team competing at the Winter Paralympic Games in Geilo, Norway. He became the first American man ever to win a gold medal at the Winter Paralympic Games, actually winning two in the Slalom and Giant Slalom.
Returning from the Paralympics, Doug was determined to bring the same recreational opportunities he found in Winter Park to Alaska. Challenge Alaska was founded in 1980 and incorporated in 1982 with the goal of providing adaptive sports and recreation to Alaskans with disabilities. The first office was in a broom closet at Alyeska Resort, serving less than a dozen participants. Challenge Alaska now helps more than 1,000 people living with disabilities every year. A small sampling of the programs include archery, sled hockey, adaptive skiing and many other outdoor recreational activities.
