If nothing else, life is serendipitous, at least when a person is open to the unforeseen. For example, check out our sports feature on page A10. It details the unusual turn of events for a 15-year-old island girl who one day in mid-December was just an ordinary sophomore in high school and the next day she was asked to train as a slalom skier for the Youth Winter Olympics being held in Austria in less than a month.

Because Isabella Todd’s mother is a native Peruvian, the youngster was qualified to represent the South American country in the first Youth Winter Olympics, at least, if she could meet the qualifying requirements for a downhill ski racer. As a recreational skier, albeit a good one, Isabella admits she wasn’t sure what she was getting into when she decided, “Why not?”

Off she went to Colorado, then back to Mission Ridge outside of Wenatchee, where she qualified. Along the way, she received  gold-medal tutoring from a former U.S. alpine ski coach and mentoring from a native son who had led the way.

Roberto Carcelén, a Peruvian who married a Seattle woman several years ago, became infatuated with cross-country skiing and trained for two years to compete in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olmpics. His is quite a story, but it pales when compared to the journey Isabella has undertaken.

Her effort epitomizes the spirit of the Olympics, which lives through the effort and competiveness of its particpants. Isabella will win no medals, but her life will never be the same. Hooray.