Yesterday marks a historic day for the Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program (MATP) when the first-ever MATP Demonstration took place at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025.
MATP skiers Michal Dolinsky, with Special Olympics Slovakia, and Samuele Tron, with Special Olympics Italia, took to the slopes at Melezet in Bardonecchia to demonstrate how mono-skiing works. Michal and Samuele are both the same age and are both coached by their fathers who happen to be the same age as well.
Samuele cannot see, but he enjoys listening to his surroundings and reacting to what he hears. As Samuele and his dad, Andrea, descended the mountain, the crowd watched in awe. When they were 100 yards from the base of the slope, Samuele started to applaud, excited by the cheering and applause he could hear from the spectators below. His dad was beaming—proud of his son, his accomplishments, showcasing to the world that his son, and others like him, belong in sport.
8 years ago, Samuele earned the title of athlete, and his life was transformed forever from that moment onward. No longer was Samuele just going to therapy, he was now an athlete who was attending training, working towards accomplishing goals.
Michal Dolinsky with his father and coach Miroslav Dolinsky at the MATP Demonstartion in Melezet at Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025.
Michal’s journey to sport was similar to Samuele’s but took place hundreds of miles away in Slovakia. To earn a living, Michal’s family had to separate when he was young. It was challenging as his dad, Miroslav, needed to be near the mountains for his ski instructor business and his mom lived elsewhere for her job.
As years went by, Michal was introduced to mono-skiing which he took to quickly with the help of his father who is now his coach. The two have now spent years training through Special Olympics Slovakia and Michal shows his excitement for the sport, throwing his arms in the air and shaking when he sees his ski. MATP brought Michal to sport and the family closer than ever.
MATP is proof that everyone, no matter their ability level, belongs in sport—whatever the sport. Michal and Samuele are carving the path for other people with intellectual and physical disabilities to pursue sport. Their fathers are now using their coaching experiences to educate others and build the knowledge of adaptive sports with people far and wide.
