SO New Zealand - Michael Holdsworth

This is not Michael Holdsworth's first time to Austria. The last time was the 1993 World Games in Austria. While he did not earn any medals at the last Games, he's hoping to bring some home this time around. In preparation for the games he has been training at the gym and will hit the slopes later this year. An athlete with Down syndrome, he is also a Global Messenger (spokesman) for Special Olympics. A longtime swimmer and basketball competitior, Michael has been keeping up his skiing skills as much as possible. He won gold for alpine skiing at the national winter games in Wanaka last year -- and was an honoured guest at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, where he presented a medal.

Support Michael and his fellow 328 athletes as part of Team Austria and host country of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Austria 2017!