Alex Bilodeau became the first athlete to win back-to-back gold medals in moguls Monday night, and perhaps no one was prouder than his brother Frederic.
Unable to contain his excitement, Frederic leapt over the barrier dividing the spectators from the skiers to hug his 26-year-old brother, who placed first despite a slow start during the qualification rounds.
Frederic, who suffers from cerebral palsy, is the motivation behind Bilodeau's historic success, according to the athlete.
"When I'm on my skis my colleagues are my inspiration, they are pushing me every day to be a better skier, to go faster, to go bigger. But a four-year process is very long, and when I wake up in the morning it's my brother," Bilodeau told reporters.
Bilodeau said that if given the chance, his brother would far eclipse his own achievements.
"The motivation that he has, if he had had the chances like I did, he would have been four times Olympic champion," he said. "He's a great inspiration, a great person and he's going to be an inspiration for me after my career also."
Cerebral palsy refers to a range of neurological disorders manifested either in infancy or early childhood that affect muscle movement.
"Every little thing in life is hard for him, whether it's going from his seat to go and see me here, walking in the snow, it takes so much energy, it's very hard," Bilodeau said.
Still, the three-time world champion says Frederic is able to remain positive despite this.
"I always complain, and he has every reason in the world to complain and he never does. And why is that? He enjoys life, he takes the best out of it."
According to Canada's Global News, Bilodeau plans to retire in order to finish his studies in accounting.
