BV62: Evan O'Hanlon: Olympic Bobsled driver and father.

61/62 Evan O’Hanlon:In this episode of Between Views, host Alec Kosky welcomes Evan O'Hanlon, a former Paralympic sprinter and bobsledder turned accessibility consultant and cafe co-owner. The episode delves into Evan's inspiring journey from being diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child to achieving global success as a Paralympic athlete, winning three gold medals in Beijing and two in London. The conversation explores his transition from athletics to bobsledding, driven by a desire for new challenges, and his current work in accessibility consulting, which combines his lived experience with disability and his landscape architecture expertise. Evan's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and finding purpose through family and meaningful work, offering listeners insights into overcoming limitations and embracing curiosity.On Living with Cerebral Palsy: "I was born with cerebral palsy... If I was to walk down the street, you wouldn't know that I have anything wrong with me... I had probably perfect cerebral palsy in that my damage happened... just early enough that I was able to still have so much plasticity in my brain." This highlights Evan's mild form of cerebral palsy, diagnosed at age two, and how early intervention and brain plasticity allowed him to lead an active life with minimal visible impact.On Becoming a Paralympic Athlete: "I was relatively talented as a primary school kid... A coach at high school recognized that and got me in touch with the right people... I was on a plane to compete overseas 4 or 5 months later." This underscores how a serendipitous connection with a coach led Evan to Paralympic sprinting, competing in the T-38 class and achieving early success on the world stage.On the Adrenaline of Bobsledding: "It's like the adrenaline rush of sprinting times a million... You're standing at the top of the mountain... Everyone has fear in their eyes. If you're not scared, you're doing it wrong." Evan describes the intense thrill and fear of bobsledding, a sport he pursued post-athletics, highlighting the high-stakes nature of piloting a sled down an icy track.On Mentorship and Coaching: "She had a very good big picture plan... If I can look after him and keep him uninjured for the next ten, 15 years, then his peak will be at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games." Evan credits his coach, Irina, for her long-term vision and detailed approach, which shaped his 20-year career and taught him to manage stress through planning.On Life Lessons and Purpose: "Other people don't know what you're capable of... When someone says that you can't do something, that shouldn't be something that stops you from trying because they're generally wrong." Evan shares a core philosophy from his life, emphasizing resilience and the importance of proving doubters wrong through action and curiosity.YouTube Music Codes:Part 1:TYEEGDLNDJRM7CHSPart 2: ZXMGDGXJMJJZKYTU