Arturo Kinch
Encyclopedia
Arturo Kinch is a customer service representative for United Airlines
who has won fame for his inspiring performances as Costa Rica
's only skier in Winter Olympic Games
history, most recently as a 49-year-old cross-country skier
in the 2006 XX Olympic Winter Games.
Born the seventh child in a family that would grow to a total of thirteen and the son of missionary
parents in Costa Rica, Kinch enrolled at Rockmont College (now Colorado Christian University
) in 1974 on a soccer scholarship
. There Kinch also played basketball
to keep in shape but became a seldom-used reserve, so he turned to downhill skiing for more playing time. He would score the most points on the ski team in spite of his inexperience, spurring coaches to encourage him to continue with the sport.
After his graduation from the College in 1979 with degrees in biblical studies
and camping and recreation, Kinch kept racing. In 1978 he founded the Costa Rica Ski Association to qualify for the 1980 XIII Olympic Winter Games after learning that eligibility for international competition required belonging to a national ski association. In Lake Placid
Kinch competed as Costa Rica’s first and only Olympic skier before competing in the 1984 XIV Olympic Winter Games, 1988 XV Olympic Winter Games, 2002 XIX Olympic Winter Games, and XX Games. In 2004 Kinch was inducted into Colorado Christian University's Hall of Fame
.
Kinch has one daughter and lives in Denver.
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
who has won fame for his inspiring performances as Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
's only skier in Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
history, most recently as a 49-year-old cross-country skier
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
in the 2006 XX Olympic Winter Games.
Born the seventh child in a family that would grow to a total of thirteen and the son of missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
parents in Costa Rica, Kinch enrolled at Rockmont College (now Colorado Christian University
Colorado Christian University
Colorado Christian University is a private, interdenominational Christian liberal arts university in Lakewood, Colorado in the United States...
) in 1974 on a soccer scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
. There Kinch also played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
to keep in shape but became a seldom-used reserve, so he turned to downhill skiing for more playing time. He would score the most points on the ski team in spite of his inexperience, spurring coaches to encourage him to continue with the sport.
After his graduation from the College in 1979 with degrees in biblical studies
Biblical studies
Biblical studies is the academic study of the Judeo-Christian Bible and related texts. For Christianity, the Bible traditionally comprises the New Testament and Old Testament, which together are sometimes called the "Scriptures." Judaism recognizes as scripture only the Hebrew Bible, also known as...
and camping and recreation, Kinch kept racing. In 1978 he founded the Costa Rica Ski Association to qualify for the 1980 XIII Olympic Winter Games after learning that eligibility for international competition required belonging to a national ski association. In Lake Placid
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
Kinch competed as Costa Rica’s first and only Olympic skier before competing in the 1984 XIV Olympic Winter Games, 1988 XV Olympic Winter Games, 2002 XIX Olympic Winter Games, and XX Games. In 2004 Kinch was inducted into Colorado Christian University's Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
.
Kinch has one daughter and lives in Denver.