When three-time Paralympic sled hockey champion Jen Lee lost his leg in a motorcycle accident 16 years ago, he struggled to reconcile his identity as both an athlete and a soldier. It wasn't until he gave sled hockey a try as a part of his rehabilitation that he rediscovered his love for the sport he grew up playing. 

"I fell in love with it immediately," Lee said. "I fell in love with just being on the ice, putting on the gear, you know springing back all these memories."

In Episode 6 of the "My New Favorite Paralympian" podcast — titled "Jen Lee: U.S. Army veteran rediscovers purpose through sled hockey" — Lee opened up to hosts Adam Rippon and Chase Cain about his recovery, trying out for the San Antonio Rampage sled hockey team, and playing for Team USA. Jen was the first active-duty soldier selected for a U.S. Paralympic winter sports team when chosen to represent the United States as a goalie at the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics. Lee and the United States sled hockey team have won three consecutive gold medals and will be looking to make it four at the 2026 Milan Cortina Paralympics.

"You're a soldier," Lee said. "You're serving your country, and now you're representing your country again in a different way. [Its] not just a dream come true but a surreal experience, for sure."

Hear all of that and more in this week's episode of My New Favorite Paralympian.

Episodes of My New Favorite Olympian and My New Favorite Paralympian release weekly in the lead-up to Milan-Cortina.

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