Losing my legs ended my football dream - now skiing gives me freedom

Published27 October 2026

A promising footballer who lost both legs after a car crash has a new passion in life - after finding "freedom" in skiing.

Adam Golebiewski was only 17 when the crash happened in 2024 in Macduff, Aberdeenshire. He needed a double amputation below the knee.

The former goalkeeper celebrated his 18th birthday during his rehabilitation in hospital, and was fitted for prosthetics.

Since then he has become a father, and - now aged 20 - is showing a flair for para cross-country skiing. Adam's coach thinks the Paralympic Winter Games could be a target.

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Adam faced three months of rehabilitation at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen following the crash which was caused by a drink driver.

He was able to walk again on crutches, and was "thankful and grateful" to be home with his family that Christmas.

Adam's dreams of becoming a professional goalkeeper were shattered, but in the face of adversity he found a new joy.

He now trains at the Nordic ski centre in Huntly, next to the field where he used to play football with junior side Deveronside.

There, he uses a special sit-ski with a board and wheels. The board is replaced with skis when he trains on snow - something he had the chance to do in America earlier this year.

With no previous experience of the sport, he has just qualified to enter international competitions as a para biathlete - which combines cross-country skiing and shooting.

His sights are now set on para biathlon World Cup events in Finland and Sweden over the next six months.

"I don't actually think of my injuries when I'm on the board - I just forget that I have them," he told BBC Scotland News.

"I just feel so free and I just forget about everything else."

Of his training travels, he explained: "In Colorado, I didn't really know anybody and I was quite nervous to go and try it out, but once I was on the snow I was completely fine - even though I fell about 40 times.

"Then Italy, that was another good experience where I I tried biathlon, which is skiing and shooting.

"The last trip I was recently on was Oberhof in Germany which was again just an improvement from the first time being away on snow, and I learned a lot more again."

He said his mind was "completely focused" on what he is doing.

Adam's coach, Simon Bate of Snowsport Scotland, said he had made impressive progress.

Bate believes the Paralympic Winter Games in 2030 could be a future goal.

"From when I first met him as an 18-year-old and he just had this real maturity and positive outlook," he said.

"He's always been very very up for what we've suggested in terms of the training, he's really keen to work hard."

Bate added: "He's definitely got the potential - and I think he's going to do well."

Adam hopes to be an inspiration to others facing difficult times.

"I think they should just give it a go because you never know what could happen," he said.

"Since I've started skiing, I've loved every minute of it.

"I never knew any of this would happen so quickly. It's just given me a bit of freedom again."

A drink-driver who caused the crash in which Adam was injured was later detained for 32 months.

Arran Paterson, 19, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, being over the drink-drive limit, and driving without insurance.

Adam had been a passenger in Paterson's car which crashed into a wall. Two other teenage passengers were also seriously injured.

Patterson was also disqualified from driving for five years and four months.

Related topics

Macduff

Banff

Amputees

Prosthetics

Skiing

Huntly

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