Sean Halsted, U.S.A.F. Combat Controller (Ret.) went from being an active-duty Air Force combat controller to a U.S. Paralympian in the 2010 Vancouver Games. During a training mission at Hurlburt Field, Florida, he fell 40 feet to the ground while fast roping from a helicopter. As a result of the accident, he incurred a first lumbar vertebrae burst fracture that damaged his spinal cord. “When I got hurt it was like my life was over. I found out that’s not the case. Life goes on. Life is still there.” Upon the urging of his physical therapist and the staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Halsted discovered the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, and soon realized he had a passion for adaptive Nordic skiing.
In the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games, Halsted finished in the top 10 in all three of the events he participated in and he’s not planning on slowing down anytime soon. “Get off your (butt) and get out here,” he said. “Life is still going on, you have to live life. You don’t stand outside the fire, you keep going. Don’t exist, live!”