Hi Everyone! My name is Haleigh Bates! I was selected to be part of the USA national team for Athletes without Limits/ Virtus International. Both of these non profit organizations, have a special place in my heart because there primary focus is for athletes with intellectual disabilities. There mission is to one day for people with intellectual disabilities to be reincluded into the Para Olympics one day. Although some sports are already including people with intellectual disabilities into the Paralympics, alpine race skiing is still the sport we are fighting for. Our goal is to have it reincluded by 2030. I currently serve on the International athlete council for Virtus allowing me to have a voice for athletes both on and off the ski slopes. This past spring our team broke barriers in Park City by being the only team with intellectual disabilities compete in the Huntsman cup, which is a all Paralympic event l.

With this being said this upcoming year February 2026, I have the amazing opportunity to participate in the series of world championships in Tarvisio Italy,; Kitzbuhel, Austria ; and lastly Park City Utah! The costs add up pretty quickly, and with being able to go these events it makes it one step closer to the 2030 paraolympics!

To find out more information about the mission do down below!

https://www.athleteswithoutlimits.org/

https://virtus.sport/