[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 7 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E59-E60]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING ROLF FUNK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2000

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize 
a man from Colorado who has displayed tremendous amounts of 
determination and strength to overcome a life-threatening injury.
  Mr. Rolf Funk, of Silverthorne, Colorado, has always had a love for 
skiing. During his sophomore year of high school, in 1951, Rolf started 
to pursue his passion and began ski jumping. After ten years of 
training and competition, Rolf decided to train for the Olympics. He 
became the first person to use a 900 meter ski jump. For the next 35 
years, Rolf competed and won various medals and awards. In 1994, Rolf 
competed in the United States National Competition and finished in 
third place.
  Then in 1995 tragedy struck. Many people believed that Rolf would 
never walk again, much less ski.
  While Rolf was training in Breckenridge, Colorado, he was going down 
a run and struck a mogul unexpectedly. The impact was to Rolf's neck 
and back and he laid in the snow, unable to move. Ski Patrol units 
moved quickly to stabilize Rolf and to try to minimize the injuries and 
transport him to a medical facility.
  Rolf was air-lifted to Denver Swedish Hospital. The verdict was a 
spinal cord injury that was initially paralyzing. Rolf was unable to 
move any of his extremities and the doctors decided that surgery was 
needed to relieve pressure to the spinal cord. It was unclear to the 
surgeon whether or not Rolf would receive any motor functions after the 
surgery. The surgery was a success, but at first there were no signs 
that it would help Rolf recover any mobility in his legs or arms. Day 
by day, however, Rolf began to get physical movements back in his 
extremities.
  Rolf was transferred to Craig Hospital where specialists could 
concentrate on helping him recover. Rolf was convinced, in his heart, 
that he would not only walk again, but that he would continue his love, 
skiing. Just a few

[[Page E60]]

short weeks after the accident, Rolf was released from the hospital and 
he returned to Breckenridge to continue physical therapy. He worked 
hard and miraculously, in a relatively short time, Rolf was skiing 
again.
  Just fourteen months after his accident, Rolf entered in the USSA 
Masters Competition. He did not place in that competition, but just 
participating was winning for him. The members of the USSA Masters 
presented Rolf with an honorary medal.
  It is with this, Mr. Speaker, that I would like to offer tribute to 
Rolf Funk and congratulate him on a miraculous recovery, his patience, 
strength and faith. Rolf's resilliance and undying passion for life is 
an inspiration to us all.

                          ____________________