147: Joshua Sweeney: Marine, Double Leg Amputee, Sled Hockey Gold Medalist & First Ever Recipient of The Pat Tillman ESPY Award

Who Are You: The Life Lessons of Sports

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9+ y ago 55:10

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Joshua Sweeney started playing hockey in middle school and then played for Ironwood High School in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. He joined the United States Marine Corps upon his graduation in 2005 to support his country and travel the world. In October of 2009 while serving in Afghanistan Josh was severely injured by an improvised explosive device. Due to this horrific injury, both of Joshua's legs had to be amputated above the knee.

While undergoing intense rehab, Josh gravitated back to the sport he loved. Having been a hockey player, friends like Rico Roman, also a military serviceman injured after a bomb blast, encouraged and recruited Josh to play Sled Hockey for Team USA as part of his rehabilitation. Not only did Josh join Team USA, he made the 2014 Olympic team and scored the only goal in the Gold Medal Game versus the Russian Sled Hockey Team in Sochi, earning Josh and his team a Gold Medal.

Now in his third year on the team, Josh is proud to represent his country and wear the Team USA jersey as he embraces the present moment, but also looks towards the future for the next journey...another Gold Medal. Josh is also a Hockey Coach in his local community.

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