JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. — Chris Furches, 25, is heading to Turin, Italy for Special Olympics USA next week!

I spoke with him to hear about how he got his big break as a Special Olympics athlete.

Chris’s snowboarding career began 6 years ago.

19 is when I actually first got started on it, but 2020 was when I first got on slopes for competition, said Chris Furches.

And right away he was a natural.

Ever since then, I was moved from the lowest level, straight up to the next level from the highest, said Chris.

Then Chris got the opportunity of a lifetime.

At the end of 2023, I was nominated to represent Special Olympics USA, so we went to Salt Lake City, Utah. I went down there, I was perfect and then they said your on the team, said Chris.

After Chris qualified, he was selected to compete for Special Olympics USA in Italy.

It’s huge, when I first heard I was going I was kinda nervous, I was extremely nervous, said Chris.

He will be competing in 2 snowboarding events.

I do slum and giant slump. It’s pretty much I think all they do is change the course up a little bit from being a little tighter to a little more wider and longer, said Chris.

And get this, he doesn’t even have a coach.

You know you have all these other people in the Special Olympics that have coaches, and everything like that. I’m just self taught and it’s just me falling down and having to get back up and do it all over again, said Chris.

Chris told me he is grateful for his church, god and his parents for all their love and support.

Just so much they donated to get me there, without them and without God especially, I don’t know if I could make it, said Chris.

Chris’s Mom, Stephanie Furches talks about her son overcoming so many obstacles, like being non-verbal as a child.

It’s an opportunity of a lifetime for him. It’s very emotional for us as parents, watching him grow as a person in his faith, as an athlete has been incredible, said Chris’ Mom, Stephanie Furches.

Chris told me he is honored and excited to be one out of seven athletes selected to represent Special Olympics USA in snowboarding!