Jayaram Khadka

Jayaram Khadka (Nepali: जयराम खड्का) (October 5, 1972) is a cross-country skier who is the first Winter Olympic Athlete from Nepal. He participated in the 2002 Winter Olympics. In the Men's 1.5 km Qualification his time was 4:48.4 making him 70th place. His nation has never won an Olympic medal in Summer or Winter.

Salt Lake City. February 8, 2002. Front of 50,000 people, athletes some 80 countries parading. Nepal has only one representative. He enters the stage, flag in hand. Behind him, an older man, obviously of European origin. Nobody really pays attention to this unlikely duo. Fate leads on Olympus is sometimes strange and convoluted. This story begins 18 years earlier. Richard Morley, British businessman thirty years, is traveling in Nepal. One day, he goes too fast, too long, too high. He fell ill. Lung infection. Morley coughing and spitting blood, is not the best. He is rescued by a former policeman, a certain Mr. Khadka. Once recovered, Morley asks his savior how he can thank him. He learns that his host itself is extremely ill. It has only two requests: Richard Morley gives a picture of him and he cares for his son, Jayaram. Morley left the picture and then leave Nepal.

He returned six years later. By visiting Khadka, he learns that he has been dead for several months. He starts looking for Jayaram and found in a restaurant in Bhaktapur, where he cleans the toilet and washing the floor, the same one where he sleeps at night. The boy recognizes the man in the photo had bequeathed him by his father. It was after a second meeting that Richard Morley decided to offer Jayaram Khadka to come with him to England, initially for a period of six months. There is a change in the world worthy of Crocodile Dundee when, on 1 December 1990, the Nepali discover this new world. " When I arrived, it was like landing on Mars for me, tell Jayaram . There were things like escalators, automatic doors, the strange food. Besides, I got sick at the beginning . "

Finally the young Nepalese eventually adapt. Adopted by Richard Morley after a long legal battle with the British government, Jarayam becomes Jay. At this moment, it is still far from the Olympic Games. And Morley, former good skier, going to the joys of winter sports. " Jay needed and wanted to play sports, he had it in him, says the Englishman. But the only thing I could tell him was skiing . " Over the years, Jay Khadka started to seriously consider participating in the Olympics. But for that, he must, in addition to his own preparation, up from scratch a ski federation in Nepal in order to compete for his country. It does not exist. Finally, an injury will prevent him from competing for qualifications for the Games of Salt Lake City skiing. So, in late 2001, he decided to put cross-country skiing. Improbable challenge but what is not in its history?

Despite his inexperience, Jayaram Khadka is allowed to align in Salt Lake City, officially becoming the first athlete to compete in the Winter Games in Nepal banner. Richard Morley, his adoptive father but also his coach, scrolls at his side during the opening ceremony. Khadka finished 69th and 79th sprint classic 10 km. Irrelevant. This is raising his arms every time he cut the finish line.