USO News

Wounded Veteran Pedals Toward Second Chance at Representing Country

Thursday, January 19, 2012

By Joseph Andrew Lee 

All Justin Widhalm ever wanted to do was to represent his country.

In 2005, a catastrophic injury cut his first opportunity short. While serving as an Army sniper in Iraq, he was exposed to traumatic brain injury in 14 separate explosions.

He was finally evacuated after a sudden gust of wind knocked him out of a Blackhawk helicopter. He fell more than 25 feet and landed in a concrete irrigation canal, severely injuring his feet, knees and back.

The recovery was long and painful.

But this summer, 34-year-old Army SFC Justin Widhalm (Ret.) may get a second shot at representing the U.S, this time as a world class cyclist at the London 2012 Paralympics.

This month, the British Embassy honored Widhalm at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. to kick off the countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“When I was in the Army, I cherished wearing the flag on my uniform because it told the world I was a representative of the greatest country on Earth,” said Widhalm. “I want that flag back. I want back out on that international stage.” 

Organizers of the London Olympics hope to honor the troops and highlight their resiliency in this summer’s games.

“The world will witness this very human bond between injured soldier-athletes from both the U.S. and the U.K., who shared an experience fighting side-by-side at war,” said Philip Barton, Deputy British Ambassador to the U.S. “These same men and women will now represent their countries in athletic competition against each other—an event which should prove inspirational to us all.”

Widhalm had never cycled competitively before he was wounded.  He began using an upper-body hand cycle during his recovery to maintain fitness while his shattered lower body healed.   But doctors told him he might never recover the mobility and balance to ride a regular bicycle.

Always a fierce competitor and athlete, Widhalm proved them wrong.  He learned to ride again and to cycle competitively with support from programs for wounded warriors.   He now trains on a custom carbon-fiber racing bike, courtesy of USO partner Ride 2 Recovery.

Today, Widhalm also assists with the recovery of his wounded brothers as a program manager with the USO Warrior and Family Care program in Colorado Springs.

Before his injuries, and while still on active duty, Widhalm had hopes of competing in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics as a wrestler.

“If I were to go back to wrestling after my injuries, I would be torn apart,” the Nebraska native said. “Try something new, and once you find that one thing, make sure you make the time for it, because once you get that one kernel of your life back, you will eventually get back the whole cob of corn.”

Widhalm will be the first to admit that it can be tough to stay upbeat. He still struggles with short-term memory loss and difficulty with hand-eye coordination.

At his low point, he even attempted suicide.

“I was having a pity party for myself,” he says. “Recovery is a long process, and I’ve had my ups and downs. But suicide is the one and only thing I’m glad I failed at.”

Like many others who are evacuated out of combat, what bothered Widhalm most was the feeling he’d abandoned his fellow soldiers.

In London, he seeks redemption.

“Every time I feel like it’s just too much, I look at into my daughter’s eyes and she inspires me to keep after my goal. In London, I will have the satisfaction of knowing that when I leave the international stage, it will be on my own terms.”