Rico Roman

Rico Roman (born February 4, 1981) is an American gold medal ice sled hockey player and Purple Heart recipient from Portland, Oregon who competed in 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.[1]

Rico Roman
Roman in 2014
Personal information
Nationality United States
Born (1981-02-04) February 4, 1981
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
EducationAlpha High School
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight180 lb (82 kg)
Sport
ClubSan Antonio Rampage
Medal record
Para ice hockey
Representing  United States
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Sochi Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2018 PyeongChang Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2022 Beijing Team competition
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Hamar Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2019 Ostrava Team competition
Gold medal – first place2021 OstravaTeam competition
Silver medal – second place 2013 Goyang Team competition
Silver medal – second place 2017 Gangneung Team competition
USA Hockey Sled Cup
Gold medal – first place 2013 Team competition

Early life

Roman, who is of Mexican American descent, graduated from Alpha High School in 2000 and joined United States Army soon after.[1] His left leg got amputated after he hit an Improvised explosive device while serving in the Iraq War[2] in February[1] 2007. After the injury, one of the Operation Comfort personnel[3] have suggested him to join the San Antonio Rampage sled hockey club where he later played from 2009 to 2011 seasons.[1][4]

Career

In 2012 he joined Dallas Stars which he helped by winning the USA Hockey Sled Classic Division A Championship. From 2011 until now he serves on the United States National Sled Hockey Team and was a winner of the 2013 USA Hockey Sled Cup. In November 2011 he became a silver medal recipient at the IPC World Sledge Hockey Challenge and next year won gold at the same place, following by another silver in 2013. In 2012 he was awarded with a gold medal by winning the International Paralympic Committee Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship and next year won a silver one at the same place.[1] Prior to sled hockey he was quoted saying:

They asked me to come out and play sled hockey, and I was like, I don't come from a hockey state. I'm from Oregon. We don't play hockey there. How many Hispanics do you see playing hockey?

[5] In 2014 he got another gold medal, this time at Sochi Paralympics.[6]

References
  1. "Rico Roman". United States Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  2. Eliza Murphy (February 5, 2014). "Wounded Veteran Goes from War to US Paralympic Sled Hockey Team". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  3. Amanda Shalala (March 11, 2014). "Rico Roman leads United States sledge hockey team at Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi". ABC. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  4. Krtistina Puga (November 6, 2013). "One-legged vet, new to sled hockey, to compete in Sochi 2014". NBC Latino. NBC. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  5. Tess Scott (March 14, 2014). "Veteran Goes for Gold With Sled Hockey Team at Paralympics". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  6. Doug Williams (January 24, 2018). "My Focus: How Rico Roman Helps Keep The U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team In The Right Frame Of Mind". United States Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2018.

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