American hero Rico Roman goes for back-to-back golds in Pyeongchang

Rico Roman has a Purple Heart and a Winter Paralympic gold medal. Over the next two weeks, he will look to add to that remarkable collection with Team USA.

The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang wrapped up in late February but the Winter Paralympic games are soon to follow, officially kicking off March 8. Gold medalist Rico Roman is returning for a second time to compete in Men’s Sled Hockey with the goal of bringing home another medal.

Roman served as an Army Staff Sergeant for nine years including three tours in Iraq. While serving his last tour, the 37-year-old suffered extensive leg damage after his Humvee struck an IED.

Luckily, doctors were able to save both of Roman’s legs, however, a year later he made the impossible decision to amputate his left leg due to immense pain and immobility.

“I started weighing this idea of doing an amputation. I had seen other veterans up on prosthetics and spoke with them, spoke with my family, said a bunch of prayers and went ahead and did the amputation,” Roman told FanSided.

In the year that followed the amputation, Roman was introduced to sled hockey. Roman, a natural athlete, admits he never followed hockey or had any interest prior and was hesitant about getting involved.

“When they asked me to come try out I had no interest in it,” Roman said. “I was playing other wheelchair sports like wheelchair basketball and hand cycling. I told them no at least a good 10 times before I finally gave in and tried it.”

Through Romans persistence and can-do attitude he is now making a second trip to the Paralympic Games after leaving Sochi with a gold medal back in 2014.

Roman credits the team’s success to how close the guys are on and off the ice. The brotherhood is reminiscent of the same camaraderie Roman felt serving in the military.

“We all have to get along whether on the ice or off the ice,” Roman said. “We have to trust one another. We’re all from different places in the United States, which is similar to the military. We all have this common goal and that’s to bring back a gold medal.”

In addition to the Paralympics, Roman who is a life long milk drinker is also teaming up with milk life and spreading the word on the importance of milk.

“I grew up on milk. My mom always made sure it was on the table for me. It’s a way for me to get protein,” Roman said. “With us banging around on the ice its important to have milk in my diet. And now as a father I make sure I have it on the table for my children.”

For more information on Roman and his Milk Life partnership visit milklife.com/teamusa.