April marks Autism Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of individuals with autism and advocate for greater inclusivity in sports. Virtus introduced the II3 competition class as a full medal event at the Virtus Global Games in 2023, creating a dedicated space for athletes with autism for the first time ever in the world of sports. With over 250 registered athletes, these individuals are inspiring other people with autism both nationally and internationally while supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

One such inspiring athlete is Dastan Ordabay, a talented athlete from Astana, Kazakhstan, whose journey in sports has not only brought personal success but has also paved the way for greater awareness and acceptance of athletes with autism worldwide.

Dastan comes from a big and loving family, including his mother, father, sister, brother, and grandmother. Among them, his mother has been his biggest supporter, always encouraging him to pursue his dreams.

Dastan’s autism diagnosis was a turning point for his family. However, rather than seeing it as a challenge, they embraced it as a way to grow closer together.

“Dastan’s diagnosis changed the life of our family, changed our environment. Not in a negative sense, but vice versa. We rallied as a family around Dastan, and his interests, and became an even happier family,” says his mother.

Introduced to sports at a young age, Dastan discovered his passion for cycling at just 10 years old. The thrill of ‘speed‘ drew him to the sport, and his dedication led him to competitive success. However, one of the biggest challenges he faced in training was not physical but social—understanding and communicating with coaches and teammates.

“The most difficult thing is the ability to communicate with people and understand what they expect from me,” he explains.

Despite these challenges, Dastan has found acceptance and support in his inclusive school, where his classmates and teachers embrace him for who he is.

The 2023 Virtus Global Games (GG2023) marked a historic moment for Dastan and Kazakhstan. It was the first-ever elite medal event for athletes with autism, and competing among fellow athletes with autism was a moment of pride for him.

“I was lucky that in 2023 I got to an international competition, and also came to know about Virtus Global Games too! That was our first competition outside of Kazakhstan. Of course, I was very happy. I love winning and gaining medals. I like to participate in competitions. Moreover, I prepared a lot for this competition. I wanted to get a medal, but I did not expect to win a silver. My family was very happy.”

Dastan’s victory at GG2023 was historical—at the age of sixteen, he won the first-ever medal for Kazakhstan in the II3 category. His triumph was not just a personal achievement but a source of inspiration for many families in Kazakhstan. He won four silvers from Individual pursuit 4000m, 1000m Time Trial, Individual Sprint 200 and Classment H-II3.

“Dastan’s victory at the GG2023 games inspired many other parents of children with autism and gave them hope, since sports for people with intellectual impairment are not so developed in Kazakhstan. This victory drew the attention of the state to the development of sports for people with mental disabilities,” shares his mother.

Dastan later won gold in II3 men’s 18.8km time trial and 5.5 km time trial in 2024 Virtus World Cycling Series in Ballarat, Australia.

Dastan’s journey in sports is far from over. While his primary focus has been cycling, he has also developed an interest in athletics and continues to train rigorously.

“Now Dastan is interested in athletics and, in my opinion, he is doing well. And of course, Dastan is preparing to participate in the GG2027 games in Cairo. He is constantly and persistently training, and time will tell in which sport.”

Virtus has played a pivotal role in supporting Dastan’s sporting journey, providing him with a platform to compete among athletes who share similar experiences.

“It’s great to be part of the Virtus family, to be among people like Dastan. The games that Virtus organizes give meaning to Dastan’s life, making it brighter and more meaningful. I think that he doesn’t think about the ultimate goal of his life, he lives here and now, and now he wants to be the first,” says his mother.

As Dastan continues to break barriers and inspire others, his ultimate message remains simple yet powerful:

“To be happy, healthy, and to win.”

Dastan has now set his eyes on para-athletics with a big challenge and dream of competing at the Para-Asian Games and Paralympic Games, representing his country for the first time from Central Asia. Dastan recently won three silvers in 60m-200m-800m, and gold in the long jump at the 2025 Virtus Open European Athletics Championships, Espoo.

Dastan’s story is a testament to the limitless potential of athletes with autism. His dedication, resilience, and love for competition continue to prove that with support, opportunity, and determination, anything is possible. As we celebrate Autism Awareness Month, let us champion inclusivity in sports and ensure that every athlete, regardless of their abilities, has the chance to shine.

The final day of the Virtus Alpine Skiing World Championships in Tignes delivered a thrilling conclusion with the Super Combined event—testing athletes’ speed in the Super G and precision in Slalom. As medals were handed out, many of the week’s most consistent stars once again stood atop the podium, solidifying their dominance and ending Tignes 2025 on a golden note.

Amelia Selznick (II1 Women’s) completed a remarkable triple gold sweep, adding the Super Combined title to her wins in Super G and Giant Slalom. Karina Zakirova of VNT earned yet another bronze, proving her resilience across events, while Eva-Maria Dünser of Austria clinched silver.

 Aoshi Kanazawa (II1 Men’s) was once again untouchable, securing his third gold medal of the Championships. France’s Thomas Girard closed out his campaign with a full medal set, adding a Super Combined bronze to his silver in slalom and bronze in Super G and Giant Slalom.

Austria’s Anna-Sophie Friedl (II2 Women’s) maintained her perfect streak, topping the podium once again for her third gold, with Finland’s Bea-Anna Westerstrahle and Poland’s Anna Kubasik rounding out the medals after consistently strong performances throughout the week.

The II2 Men’s podium was stacked with multi-medalists. Austria’s Markus Grameiser captured gold, completing an impressive medal haul that included wins in slalom and podiums in all events. Poland’s Antoni Wiercioch and fellow Austrian Richard Strohhäusl continued their fierce rivalry, finishing second and third respectively—each now boasting an impressive string of medals across the Championships.

The II3 Women’s category, Australia’s Georgia Yuen left no doubt about her place in Tignes 2025 history, claiming her fourth gold and sweeping every event at Tignes 2025.  USA’s Haleigh Bates and Elizabeth Whitehouse mirror their earlier results, showcasing their consistency and talent.

France’s Axel Bringdal closed his Championships on a high with gold in the II3 Men’s Super Combined, followed by Ange Cazorla, who once again landed on the podium for his fourth medal. USA’s Lyons Palmer claimed a well-earned bronze to round off the action.

As the sun set on Tignes, the Super Combined brought not just thrilling finishes, but fitting final chapters to stories of courage, consistency, and sheer brilliance. These athletes have not only earned their medals but have carved their names into Virtus Alpine Skiing history.

The slopes of Tignes provided the perfect setting for another exhilarating day of competition for the Slalom race at the Virtus World Alpine Skiing Championships 2025. Athletes from around the world demonstrated remarkable skill and determination as they navigated the challenging slalom course, adding to the excitement of an already thrilling week of racing.

For some competitors, today’s victory marked their second medal at Tignes 2025, following their success in the Super-G event earlier in the championships.

In the II1 category, multiple-time champion Mélanie De Bona from France secured the gold medal with an outstanding performance. Filippa Améen of Sweden earned silver with a strong and consistent run, while her teammate Jina Backlund claimed the bronze medal with an impressive finish.

In the II1 category, Japan’s Aoshi Kanazawa delivered a masterful performance to take home the gold medal. Thomas Girard of France showcased his skill and resilience to secure silver, while Antoine Maure, also from France, rounded out the podium with a strong bronze-medal finish.

The II2 category saw Austria’s Anna-Sophie Friedl take the top spot, winning gold with a remarkable display of technique. Fellow Austrian Elena Grabner added a second silver medal to her achievements at Tignes 2025, while Poland’s Anna Kubasik completed the podium with a well-fought bronze medal.

The II2 category saw Austria’s Markus Grameiser claim gold with an exceptional race. Richard Strohhäusl, also from Austria, earned his second silver medal at Tignes 2025 with another impressive showing, while Jan Wolczko of Poland secured the bronze medal in a highly competitive field.

In the II3 category, Georgia Yuen from Australia continued her dominance on the slopes by securing her second gold medal at Tignes 2025. Aliye Zeynep Bingül of Turkey followed closely behind, earning the silver medal with a fantastic run.

In the II3 category, France’s Axel Bringdal dominated the event to win his second gold medal of the championships. His countryman Ange Cazorla followed up with an impressive silver-medal finish, while Muhsin Murat Bingül of Turkey secured the bronze with a solid performance.

As the Virtus Skiing Championships 2025 progress, the level of competition continues to rise. These exceptional athletes have once again demonstrated their incredible abilities, inspiring others with their dedication and sportsmanship.

Congratulations to all the winners and participants for their outstanding performances. The excitement in Tignes is far from over, and we eagerly anticipate more unforgettable moments on the slopes.

Full results can be accessed from the competition website.

The first race, Super G, from the 2025 Virtus World Alpine Skiing Championships, made its way to the Lognan Stadium in Tignes. Skiers were treated to a bright sun and amazing weather.

The biggest news came from the II3 competition, with 16-year-old young woman, Yuen Georgia, winning the Super G race and claiming her first Virtus medal from her inaugural event. The teenager did not just open her personal Virtus medal tally, but also ended a 13-year-long dry spell for Australia in a Virtus skiing event. Yuen clocked a time of 1:21.77sec, defeating USA’s Bates Haleigh and Whitehouse Elizabeth who finished second and third respectively.

“It was a really fun course. I always find the start of the race super fun. Super G is not something we compete at back home so I didn’t have a lot of training but I would like to continue with this and come back to the games.”

Australia last won a medal in the 2012 Virtus World Skiing Championships in Turkey when Nicole Harris won 3 Gold in the Slalom, Giant Slalom and Combined. The entire Australian contingent was seen celebrating Yuen’s medal-winning moment today at the resort.

Expressing excitement, Robyn Smith, Virtus Board member, IPC Governing board member at large and Australian Head of Delegation said,

“We are very pleased and excited for Georgia winning gold today. She is an amazing skier with a bright future ahead of her. We wish her and all other skiers well for the remaining of the Championship.”

Georgia holds many laurels from non-Virtus championships. She finished first in Giant Slalom, Multiclass and teams Ski Cross and sixth in Giant Slalom in the Australian National Snowsports Championships, Perisher, NSW last year. She also secured first place in Giant Slalom (multi-class) and teams Ski Cross, third in Giant Slalom at the NSW State Championships, Perisher, NSW and second place in Panel Slalom, third in Ski Cross at Blue Cow Cup, Perisher, NSW in 2024.

“We are delighted to see such a young skier winning the II3 Super G race today, especially at the start of Autism Awareness Month. We cannot wait to see how she will perform in the rest of her races but we know one thing for sure, she has a very bright future ahead of her and she will inspire many teenage girls with autism to follow their dreams,” said Marc Truffaut, Virtus President.

Full results can be accessed from the competition website.