- Ralf Etienne, a 36-year-old one-legged Bank of America investment banker in London, is striving to become Haiti’s first Winter Paralympian in three-track skiing at the 2026 Games.
- After losing his leg in Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, he rebuilt his life in the U.S. through education, prosthetics, and adaptive skiing, eventually entering investment banking.
- U.S. immigration policy changes that halted green-card processing for Haitians forced him to move to London to preserve both his banking career and athletic ambitions.
- Bank of America’s flexible support, including remote work and leave for European race training, exemplifies corporate accommodation and ESG-style backing of an employee-athlete.
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Ralf Etienne’s story intersects multiple strategic domains: personal resilience, international policy, corporate culture, and sports diplomacy. His journey from surviving a catastrophic natural disaster to pursuing elite adaptive athletics while maintaining a career at Bank of America reflects a merging of personal narrative with global policy constraints. The interplay between immigration policy and talent retention is particularly central—his relocation to London was forced by U.S. administrative changes that substantially limit Haitians’ avenues to permanent residency. This case illustrates how regulatory shifts can impact individual lives—and by extension, national representation in global arenas.
From a corporate/investment banking viewpoint, Etienne’s ambition underscores the potential for firms to engage in nontraditional forms of sponsorship or employee support—particularly where employee identities align with broader corporate values around diversity and inclusion. Bank of America’s flexibility—permitting remote work, offering leave for training, and enabling Etienne to maintain both work and sport obligations—may serve as a case study in employer accommodation and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) branding. Such accommodations entail both direct costs (time, travel, administrative support) and reputational upside.
Internationally, Etienne aims to compete in the three-track skiing event and already competes in European races to qualify. Haiti’s official designation of him as its first potential Winter Paralympic representative creates symbolic import: it signals Haiti’s ambition to expand its presence in winter sports, historically dominated by nations with winter climates. For sports governing bodies and funders, his case raises questions about infrastructure, training resources, and investment in underrepresented geographies.
Open questions remain around whether Etienne can complete the required number of qualifying races before the Paralympics—given his dual commitments—and whether he has sufficient training resources (coaching, equipment, sponsors). Additionally, his visa status highlights risk: future policy adjustments could affect travel, competition eligibility, or even his ability to work. From a banking firm’s standpoint, how much additional support will be warranted—and how these support efforts are perceived by employees and stakeholders—are unknowns.
Supporting Notes
- His name: Ralf Etienne, age 36; role: investment banker at Bank of America (London branch) with a one-leg disability. [1]
- He is training for the three-track ski event (for competitors who compete on one leg) in the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy, and has under three months from the date of the article to compete in required international tournaments to qualify. [1]
- Etienne lost his leg during Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, while he was 20; rescued after hours, then moved to the U.S. for a prosthetic leg and later education at Bergen Community College, Anderson University, and UNC. [1]
- His meeting with Paralympic coach Monte Meier in Park City, Utah, inspired him to pursue qualification; he had his first competitive race in Winter Park, Colorado, in April 2025—making him eligible. [1]
- Immigration policy shift: the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in December 2025 announced it would stop processing green-card applications for Haitians, leading Etienne to relocate to London to safeguard both his employment and his athletic pursuits. [1]
- Bank permitting remote work for two weeks at year-end so Etienne could train in Switzerland; showing internal support. [1]
Sources
- [1] www.wsj.com (The Wall Street Journal) — Dec 26, 2025