Heath

Calhoun

Sport: Alpine Skiing
Height: 5-10
Weight: 160
Classification: LW12-2, Sitting
Date of Birth: July 29, 1979
Birthplace: Bristol, Tenn.
Hometown: Bristol, Tenn.
Current Residence: Clarksville, Tenn.
High School: Grundy Senior HS (Grundy, Va.) ‘97
College: Southwest Virginia Community College ‘99
Military Service Branch: United States Army
Military Rank: Staff Sergeant
Military Status: Retired
Coach: Kevin Jardine

Career Highlights

• 2014: Paralympic Winter Games, silver super combined, 4th super-G, 6th giant slalom; U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing National Championships, 1st giant slalom; Huntsman Cup, 1st slalom; World Cup Copper Mountain, 7th slalom run 1, 2nd slalom run 2, 6th giant slalom run 1, 9th giant slalom run 2; NorAm Aspen, 5th downhill; U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing National Championships, 2nd super-G, 7th downhill
• 2013: IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, 5th slalom, 6th super combined; NorAm Copper Mountain, 2nd slalom
• 2012: U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing National Championships, 2nd downhill, 3rd super-G
• 2010: Paralympic Winter Games, 8th super-G, 10th super combined; World Cup Sestriere, 6th super combined
• 2009: U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing National Championships, 1st super-G, 2nd slalom; World Cup Whistler, 13th giant slalom; 17th super combined
• 2008: Eastern NorAm, 1st slalom

Personal

Retired Army Staff Sgt. Heath Calhoun has gone from the battlefield to the ski slopes, all in the name of representing his country – first in the military and now as an athlete.

At a young age, Calhoun earned respect for the U.S. military. His father served in Vietnam and his grandfather in World War II, and in 1999, Calhoun made the decision to carry on his family's dedication to the military and to the service of his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army. While deployed in Iraq, Calhoun served as Squad Leader for the 101st Airborne Division. He was severely wounded when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his Humvee in 2003, resulting in the amputation of both of his legs above the knee. For his service, Calhoun received a Purple Heart.

As he was learning to walk on prosthetics during rehabilitation, Calhoun learned about the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), which provides programs and support for wounded service members, and through the program was introduced to adaptive skiing. Calhoun is an advocate for wounded warriors and helped to get the Wounded Warrior Bill passed through Congress in 2005. Then in 2007, the WWP awarded him the George C. Lang Award for Courage in honor of his achievements.

In 2006, Calhoun began training with the USOC Paralympic Military Program in alpine skiing through a partner organization, Challenge Aspen, in Snowmass, Colo. He is now a certified mono-ski instructor. 

Connect
Twitter: @LeglessHeath
Website: Heathcalhoun.com   

Paralympic Experience

• 2-time Paralympian; 1-time Paralympic medalist (1 silver)
• Paralympic Games Sochi 2014, (Slalom - Sitting - Men), silver (Super Combined - Sitting - Men), 4th (Super-G - Sitting - Men), 6th (Giant Slalom - Sitting - Men)
• Paralympic Games Vancouver 2010, (Slalom - Sitting - Men), 8th (Super-G - Sitting - Men), 10th (Super Combined - Sitting - Men)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2013 – (Giant Slalom - Sitting - Men), 5th (Slalom - Sitting - Men), 6th (Super Combined - Sitting - Men), 13th (Downhill - Sitting - Men), 23th (Super-G - Sitting - Men)
• Years of participation: Downhill - Sitting - Men 2013; Giant Slalom - Sitting - Men 2013; Slalom - Sitting - Men 2013; Super Combined - Sitting - Men 2013; Super-G - Sitting - Men 2013
• Top finish: – 2013 (Giant Slalom - Sitting - Men)