Once a shy young man, Jesse Rohrer has overcome disabilities to master alpine skiing and win gold at the Special Olympics, shattering misconceptions about people with disabilities.
In 2025, Jesse Rohrer won a gold medal in alpine skiing at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Torino, Italy. The achievement capped years of dedication and training. Sean Simmers ssimmers@pennlive.
com.Few people can parlay a childhood stint in track and field into mastery of alpine skiing — let alone win a gold medal in it. That’s the unwavering trajectory Jesse Rohrer carved in his winning athletic career — capturing gold in last year’s Special Olympics, and along the way, shattering societal expectations of what people with disabilities are capable of attaining. Rohrer won his medal in alpine skiing at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Torino, Italy. The achievement capped years of dedication and endurance and weight training that Rohrer undertook to perfect his abilities on the slalom, super-G and giant slalom races. “When I learned that I won gold, I was overwhelmed with excitement. I also found out I became the first Pennsylvania athlete to ever win a gold medal at the Special Olympics World Winter Games, which made the moment even more meaningful.” Athletics and training have given Rohrer, who was born with autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder , the opportunity to break out of his reserved shell. The dedication and discipline have allowed him to overcome his shyness and the bullying he faced in school.When not in training, Rohrer works as a kitchen steward at UPMC Harrisburg’s Seven Bridges Café. “I work as a lead dishwasher, where I’m responsible for ensuring that all dishes are cleaned, all daily cleaning tasks are completed, and that trash and cardboard are collected and taken out properly,” Rohrer said. But he brings much more than that to the job: Rohrer is considered the “lifeblood of the cafeteria,” and is known for his sense of humor and skill at movie trivia. As a Special Olympics ambassador, Rohrer exudes the inspiration that allows him to be an advocate, not just for people with special abilities, but anyone facing life’s challenges.“Special Olympics has given me lifelong friendships, new experiences, and countless opportunities to compete, grow, and challenge myself. The greatest lesson I’ve learned is this: If at first you don’t succeed, keep trying. “The message I want to share with anyone facing challenges in their life is this: Keep moving forward. Live your life to the fullest. And never give up on your dreams.”Ivey DeJesus is a professional journalist with more than 25 years of experience. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, The Associated Press and the Pennsylvania Newspaper...
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