Para bobsled athletes from the U.S. Para bobsled team returned to Lake Placid for their final race of the season, the National championships. Among them was David Christopher, a veteran who found solace and passion in bobsledding after a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed. Christopher, who began bobsledding a few seasons ago, quickly rose through the ranks to compete on the Para Sport World Cup circuit.
Kim Seevers, the manager of U.S. para sliding sports, has been instrumental in the success of the team on the World Cup circuit. She has helped guide athletes like Guillermo Castillo, who became the first U.S. para bobsled athlete to win the overall IBSF Para Sport World Cup in 2023. Castillo, a veteran wounded in Iraq, found a new purpose in life through bobsledding.
Other members of the team, like DJ Skelton and Dan Rizzieri, have also found fulfillment in bobsledding. Skelton, a veteran wounded in Iraq, has been on the push-division national team for four years and enjoys the thrill of sliding down the track. Rizzieri, born without both legs, transitioned from para track and field to bobsledding and has found a supportive community within the team.
The Para Sport World Cup circuit features athletes who can’t physically push themselves off the track, using a mechanical launcher instead. Despite the challenges, these athletes have found camaraderie, support, and a sense of purpose in bobsledding. The team continues to grow, with each member pushing themselves to do better and achieve their goals on the ice.