Joel

Hunt

Sport: Alpine Skiing
Height: 5-6
Weight: 184
Classification: LW3, Standing
Date of Birth: June 24, 1978
Birthplace: Kokomo, Ind.
Hometown: Kokomo, Ind.
Current Residence: Denver, Colo.
High School: Northwestern HS (Kokomo, Ind.) ‘98
Military Service Branch: Army
Military Rank: Specialist
Military Status: Retired
Coach: Kevin Jardine

Career Highlights

• 2014: Paralympic Winter Games, 24th giant slalom; World Cup Copper Mountain, 14th slalom run 1, 20th slalom run 2; NorAm Winter Park, 4th giant slalom, 7th slalom
• 2013: IPCAS Panorama, 7th super-G run 1, 4th super-G run 2, 6th super combined and giant slalom; NorAm Copper Mountain, 12th giant slalom, 13th slalom, 19th super-G run 1, 15th super-G run 2
  2012: NorAm Winter Park, 3rd slalom; NorAm Copper Mountain, 8th slalom run 1, 7th slalom run 2, 8th giant slalom, 11th super-G; U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing National Championships, 5th super-G
• 2011: NorAm Kimberley, Canada, 11th super-G run 1, 9th super-G run 2, 8th downhill run 1, 11th downhill run 2; Huntsman Cup, 3rd giant slalom

Personal

Joel Hunt’s favorite saying is, “Tough times don’t last, tough people do,” and Hunt certainly fits the bill for a tough person. After serving three tours of duty in Iraq as a Combat Engineer 12B, Hunt was medically retired from the Army in October 2007 with a partially paralyzed left leg and a traumatic brain injury that left him dealing with memory loss, headaches, dizzy spells and double vision. Upon returning home with severely limited mobility, he grew depressed. In December 2008, Hunt’s parents forced him to go to a ski camp for veterans with TBIs, and for the first time in a long time, Hunt felt like he was good at something.

In fact, Hunt was earning top-10 finishes in national competition within three years of that ski camp. He earned two top-20 finishes in world cup competition this season and is set to make his Paralympic Winter Games debut in Sochi.

Connect
@thehuntforgold

Paralympic Experience

• 1-time Paralympian;
• Paralympic Games Sochi 2014, 24th (Giant Slalom - Standing - Men)