former Miss Waco competes in Para Snowboard Globe Championships in Spain

WACO, Texas (KWTX) – Former Miss Waco, Jamie Blanek, 33, who lost her leg two years ago just after getting hit by a auto whilst stopping to render air to two young girls in an accident, has accomplished an pretty much unheard-of feat by qualifying and participating in the Para Snowboard Globe Championships in Spain in her initial year competing.

She’s presently ranked 7th in the planet.

“I just go complete force with almost everything I want to do,” Blanek stated. “I’m determined to attain my ambitions.”

Jamie underwent her most current surgery 4 months ago but has never ever let her accident hold her back.

Jamie Blanek(Courtesy Pictures)

She spent the final 3 weeks competing in Europe, initial in Italy at the Europa Cup, and then Spain at the Globe Championship.

It is about extra than a medal to Jamie as there is presently no snowboarding occasion in the Paralympics for athletes like her who are the most severely disabled in the reduce limb category.

Competing at this higher of a level is a big step toward creating that come about.

Jamie initial competed in San Pellegrino, Italy in the Europa Cup in two events of boardercross, a kind of snowboarding competitors exactly where competitors race side-by-side on a specially created course and banked slalom, a snowboard race held on a curvy course with tight banked turns. She placed 2nd in each events.

Jamie Blanek(Courtesy Photo)

Jamie and other competitors worldwide with related disabilities earned the opportunity to go to Spain and train, but with no guarantees to truly compete.

“We have been getting observed for the duration of all our instruction. We have been getting watched so they could see, ‘okay, is this athlete protected? Are they capable of performing these courses?’ Then we had to be voted on and authorized, and then wild carded in. So, it wasn’t even assured we’d get to compete just by going to Spain, nonetheless, we necessary the numbers.”

Jamie ended up putting 7th in each events at the Globe Championships.

“I have been instruction genuinely difficult, so to be ranked 7th in the planet, is outstanding,” she stated.

Jamie Blanek(Courtesy Pictures)

Jamie is returning Friday to the United States exactly where she’s been instruction at the National Capacity Center is Park City, Utah given that December 2021.

Her subsequent competitors is the national championships in Colorado in April.

Jamie is element of the Improvement Group with Group USA, and has her eyes set on her subsequent major aim, competing at the Winter Paralympics in 2026.

“To be exactly where I’m at with my sport, and my life in basic, only two years just after this pretty much fatal accident, is definitely outstanding,” Blanek stated, “I’m so grateful to not only be alive but to be living a life of objective, and I get to do what I enjoy daily.”

“That’s point I can supply to the planet is to show them via my actions something is achievable.”

Jamie Blanek(Courtesy Pictures)