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16OntheocialU.S.ParalympicssiteStephenLawleroersthese10factsabouthimselfOKmaybetheyrefactoidsoratleastfact-ishashepreparesforSochiandthe2014Paralympics.ThefactsbelowareStephens.Thecommentaryisours.STEPHENLAWLER10FUNFACTSder.TheinjurycosthimabigchunkofyetanotherseasonbutwhenherecoveredwellenoughtoskicompetitivelyhetraveledtoSpainwithhisteamonceagainbeganattackingthemountainwithhistrademarkblisteringbreakneckstyleandsomehownishedasurprisingsecondinthedownhill.ThatpodiumalongwithhislifelongpassionforspeedandthekindofintensivecoachinghedbeenreceivingonhisadmittedlyrawtechniqueovertwoParalympicseasonsledhimtobelieve2013-14wasgoingtobehisyearaseasonheenvisionedbeing1.ISTARTEDSKIINGAT10YEARSOLDHisrstskiingpartnershismotherandhisgrandmotherclaimhemusthavethoughthisbucketwasasledbecausehepointeditstraightdownhillandneverstopped.2.RACINGISINMYBLOODHisdadNoelLawlerisarst-generationimmigrantfromIrelandwhodiscoveredroadrallyracingasakidandneverlookedback.Heandhispartnernishedsecondinthe1998U.S.RallyCarChampionshipsandhewaslaterfeaturedonthecoverofaNintendo64videogame.AsStephensayshelikestothinkhewasborntorace.3.IVEBEENINAMOVIEWhenhewas13hewasdrivingcrosscountrywithhismotherwhenthetwostoppedinColoradoforadaysworthofskiing.Therehewasspot-tedbyadirectorwhowasmakinganeducationallmwithextremeskierGlenPlake.StephensroleinthelmwasnotabigonebutTheSnow-MonsterscanstillbeseenplayingattheBreckenridgeSkiResort.4.FREEDOMANDMAPLESYRUPSteveisaVermontguythroughandthroughandisunabashedlyproudofinre-verseorderthestatesmottoFreedomandUnitythefactthatVermontishometotheiconicBenandJerrysIceCreamplantandperhapsmostofallthequalityofhishomestatesmaplesyrupwhichheandmanyotherswillgototheirgravescontendingisthenestofitskindintheworld.5.ILOVEKIWISHistimewiththeU.S.ParalympicSkiTeamhastaughthimthathisfavoriteplacetovisitintheworldisNewZealand.Hecallsthemountainsamazingandsaysthecountryoersthenestsceneryheseverseen.Healsoclaimsthepeopleareincred-iblyfriendlyandthatrugbytheirfavoritepastimeisaprettycoolsport.6.IAMNOTTHECLEANESTPERSONOscarMadisonmoveover.Theresanewsheriintown.AndhisnameisStephencappedbyatleastonegoldmedalatthe2014GamesinSochiandsomeothersalongtheway.ButinMayjustamonthbeforehewastoleaveforMt.HoodwiththerestofhisParalympicteammatesandembarkuponthegruelingoseasontrainingtheyfaceeverysummerhelearnedhehaddevelopedaninfectionduringsomerecentnon-shoulder-relatedsurgeryasetbackthatprecludedhimfromparticipatingintheMt.Hoodtrainingandforcedhimtoremainallbutinactiveforweekswhilehisbodyfoughttheinfection.