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Minnesota will have the most Paralympians out of any state in the country competing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics. Among them, 21-year-old Max Nelson, who will be competing in his second games in Para Nordic skiing. 

He was born with a rare genetic eye disease at age two. It was a condition that has never been documented before. He underwent more than 10 eye surgeries before his third birthday. The disease left him completely blind in his left eye and with tunnel vision in his right eye. 

Despite his impaired vision, Nelson was on skis by first grade. At Mahtomedi High School, he competed in cross-country skiing. 

“I was racing just against people who had, obviously, they can see where they're going,” Nelson said. “So it actually kind of made me want to work harder.”

Nelson was introduced to Para Nordic skiing while in high school. In 2022, at age 17, Nelson was the youngest member of the U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing team. 

Ahead of the 2026 games, Nelson faced a new challenge. Last March, he was getting bad headaches. A CT scan later revealed a tennis ball-sized tumor in his brain. A 10-hour surgery removed the tumor. After the surgery, Nelson couldn’t move the entire right side of his body. He had to relearn to walk and talk. By June, Nelson was back on skis. 

“I'm very lucky to be here and just to do what I love,” he said. 

During the Paralympics, Nelson will compete in the visually impaired division. He has a guide, August Schatzlein, who calls out every turn or any obstacles. Nelson describes Schatzlein as a brother. 

Nelson hopes to medal, but his larger goal is to inspire others. 

“I really just like to help other people and say that if I can do it, they can do it,” he said. 

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Doctors found a tennis ball-sized brain tumor last March. Nelson had to relearn to walk and talk. And less than a year later, he qualified for the Paralympics.

After brain cancer diagnosis, Minnesota Paralympian Max Nelson competing at his second games

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