Andy Soule Wins Paralympic Gold In Cross-Country Skiing

PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA — Andy Soule finally got over the hump and won his first career Paralympic gold. The Houston native and Pearland High alum unleashed a powerful surge and leaned at the line to win gold. Soule crossed the line of the 1.1km sprint in 3:31.4, an identical time with Dzmitry Loban of Belarus, but Soule was awarded the win in a photo finish.

The gold medal is Soule's first after winning bronze in the 2010 Vancouver Games and missing out in the 2014 Sochi Games.

“It means so much. It feels so incredible," Soule said. "I couldn’t do it without incredible teammates pushing me all the time, and without incredible coaching and technical staff. I think it speaks to a great team effort that has really paid off for us.”

American Dan Cnossen had a strong lead heading into the stadium; however, three competitors, including Soule, pulled alongside him and made it an even race for the line.

“I definitely lost a little gas in the final stretch," Cnossen said. "My strategy was to tuck in behind the Belarus athlete in the beginning and then sprint over the bridge and try to hang on. Andy had such an awesome race. This is the second day in a row we’ve had two U.S. men on the podium which is just phenomenal.”

Soul said before the 2018 Paralympic Games that he felt he was in the right shape at the right time, and it helped him in the final push.

“That was an interesting race, an interesting tactical race," Soule said. "I chased the whole way. I don’t think it necessarily hurt me to chase that much, it actually helped with a little bit of wind break. I think a good, tight tuck coming down the final hill put me in a natural line, and I knew I had a shot at a good sprint out."

Soule, who graduated Pearland High in 1999 and attended Texas A&M for three years in the Corps of Cadets, is a double amputee. He lost both of his legs beneath the kneecaps while standing in the back of the humvee as it journeyed down a path in Afghanistan, an improvised explosive device (IED) went off, shattering both of his legs beneath. Soule was in the U.S. Army and received the Purple Heart. He is discharged from the Army and now lives in Kerrville, Texas.

United States Paralympics contributed to this report

Photo courtesy of U.S. Paralympics