Gonzalo Escobar Wernli grew up with a love for winter sports—and a talent for them, too. And why wouldn’t he? He enjoyed early instruction from his grandfather, Claudio Wernli, who was a competitive skier in the 1964 Winter Olympics in Austria, among other events.
Gonzalo learned a lot from his grandfather, who still hits the slopes to ski at age 82. Gonzalo began skiing when he was 5 years old, but by age 12, he began focusing his talents on a different fast winter sport: snowboarding.
Now age 28, Gonzalo is continuing the family tradition of international sports competition by competing in snowboarding at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
He says he’s “training physically and psychologically” to represent Chile by being in his best possible physical condition.
When he’s not training or on the slopes, Gonzalo works as a sports assistant at the local municipality. He combines his administrative duties and also works with children.
Says Gonzalo: “Special Olympics has changed my life and taught me about overcoming obstacles and about leadership.”
In addition, Gonzalo has become an athlete leader within Special Olympics Chile. In fact, he recently received an important honor: he was voted as President of the Regional Athlete Leadership Council of Special Olympics Latin America region.
Looking ahead to the World Winter Games in Turin, Gonzalo and his fellow athletes hope to polish their skills and bring home medals for Chile. He is also looking beyond these Games to the next Special Olympics World Games, set for Santiago in 2027, when he’ll be part of the Local Organizing Committee.
In the words of Carolina Picasso, chairman of Special Olympics Chile, “Gonzalo has become one of the most powerful leaders of Special Olympics Chile, representing thousands of athletes, that just like him, need opportunities for growth and development.”
