{"id":7621,"date":"2026-04-28T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7621"},"modified":"2026-04-28T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T14:30:00","slug":"army-veteran-finds-new-purpose-through-va-adaptive-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7621","title":{"rendered":"Army Veteran finds new purpose through VA Adaptive Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2026-04-28T14:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

From deployment to the Paralympics<\/h2>\n

When Army Veteran Katie Verderber releases a curling stone across the ice, the moment lasts seconds, but those seconds represent years of recovery, resilience and a new mission after a life-changing injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s 14 seconds of peace and chaos all at once,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Verderber, a former Army Judge Advocate General officer who deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, with the 1st Cavalry Division in 2019, suffered a severe back injury during an advising mission overseas. She underwent multiple surgeries, but over time her condition worsened. Eventually, she began using a wheelchair.<\/p>\n

Her recovery at VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) helped open a door she never expected, a path that led from rehabilitation to adaptive sports<\/a> and ultimately to representing Team USA in wheelchair curling at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.<\/p>\n

That journey began at the 2024 National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic<\/a>, where she was first introduced to curling.<\/p>\n

A turning point in recovery<\/h2>\n

At VAPSHCS, Verderber worked with spinal cord injury and adaptive sports specialists who encouraged her to stay active and push beyond what she thought was possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cKatie was someone who was open to trying anything during rehabilitation and always gave it her all,\u201d said Recreation Therapist Mia Mortensen. \u201cShe is a very resilient woman. Whatever she chooses to do, she will!\u201d<\/p>\n

VAPSHCS\u2019s spinal cord injury program helps Veterans regain independence through rehabilitation, adaptive sports and recreation therapy. Physicians, nurses, and physical, occupational and recreation therapists work with to Veterans rebuild strength, mobility and confidence during recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey changed my entire outlook on life,\u201d she said. \u201cThey taught me more than how to just compete in sports.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of those moments came when her recreation therapist encouraged her to attend the 2024 National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, an adaptive sports event co-hosted by VA and Disabled American Veterans (DAV).<\/p>\n

Verderber traveled to Colorado expecting to focus on sit-skiing but gave curling a try. Two weeks later, she was invited to USA Curling<\/a>\u2019s athlete identification camp. \u201cI attended the selection camp just expecting to gain experience,\u201d she said. \u201cI didn\u2019t even think about making the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Training for the Paralympics<\/h2>\n

Curling quickly became part of Verderber\u2019s recovery and a new source of motivation, leading her to compete in the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.<\/p>\n

\u201cCurling was all part of my recovery and journey,\u201d she said. \u201cIt gives me a reason to continue getting up and working hard every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Training at an elite level hasn\u2019t been easy. Living in Montana, she often travels to practice because there is no dedicated curling ice nearby, routinely training in cities like Denver, Minneapolis and Cape Cod.<\/p>\n

Despite Verderber\u2019s demanding schedule, her family\u2019s support keeps her grounded. \u201cMy wife, my dogs, my family and friends\u2014they\u2019ve wrapped their arms around me and pushed me forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Carrying the flag again<\/h2>\n

For Verderber, competing in the Paralympics carries deep meaning, not just as an athlete, but as a Veteran. \u201cIt\u2019s an incredible honor,\u201d she said. \u201cI wore a flag on my uniform in the Army, and now I get to do it again\u2014just in a different capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The teamwork required in curling reminds her of military service. \u201cWe can\u2019t win a medal without all of us harmonizing together as one,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

A message for other Veterans<\/h2>\n

Verderber says recovery after a life-changing injury is rarely straightforward. \u201cYou\u2019ll have good days and bad days,\u201d she said. \u201cI still have them more than two years later, and that\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anger, frustration and grief can be part of the process. But so can rediscovering purpose. \u201cLet yourself be angry,\u201d she said. \u201cBut let yourself be happy, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her advice to others navigating recovery is simple: \u201cTry the hard things,\u201d she said. \u201cGet up and do it.\u201d And if they\u2019re not sure where to start, she has a suggestion ready: \u201cCome talk to me about curling.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information about winter adaptive sports, visit the 2026 National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic webpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Army Veteran Katie Verderber finds new purpose through adaptive sports, rising from injury to become a Paralympic wheelchair curler for Team USA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":318,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-health-care","category-prosthetics-rehabilitation"],"yoast_head":"\nArmy Veteran finds new purpose through VA Adaptive Sports - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Army Veteran Katie Verderber finds new purpose through adaptive sports, rising from injury to become a Paralympic wheelchair curler for Team USA.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7621\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Army Veteran finds new purpose through VA Adaptive Sports - 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