US Airways - January 2014 - (Page 46)

» WINTER WARRIORS Torino Games in 2006, Uhlaender's father passed away. She lost not only her biggest fan, but also her closest conﬁdante. "I remember having a conversation with Carl Lewis," she says. "We were talking about losing our fathers, and he told me that once I could let go, I would have the conﬁdence and I Serving His Country, Again # When sled hockey player Rico Roman takes to the ice during the Paralympic Games in Sochi, it will be his ﬁfth tour of duty for the U.S. For the ﬁrst four, he was a member of the Army. In early 2007, during his fourth deployment overseas and third tour of Iraq, a roadside bomb tore through his left leg. The Oregon native's injured leg had to be amputated. Just two years later, he joined the all-veteran San Antonio Rampage sled hockey club. "Growing up, I didn't watch hockey, I didn't play hockey," says 32-year-old Roman. "When Operation Comfort [a San Antonio- based program committed to helping wounded veterans] asked me to come out and try the sport, I was very hesitant. But I ﬁnally tried it, and it was like football on ice. It was so much fun." Married with two young children, Roman is a busy man. But when he plays, everything else disappears. "For that brief moment when you're playing, you don't think about anything else," he says. "I don't think about my disability, bills, or troubles. I'm just having fun. That's what drove me to this sport - the pure fun of the game and the competition." 46 JANUARY 2014 usairwaysmag.com would understand that my father left me with the tools I needed to continue without him. So I said, 'Where's the toolbox, Carl?' "When I won the World Championships in 2012, I felt like I ﬁnally found the toolbox," she says. From Speed Skater to Superhero How many athletes can say that they've inspired a new superhero? Shani Davis can. The 31-year-old Davis - who became the ﬁrst African American man to win a Winter Olympic gold medal when he captured the 1,000-meter speed skating race in Torino in 2006 - was the model for Frozone, Samuel L. Jackson's character in the Pixar ﬁlm The Incredibles. "Yeah, that character was inspired by yours truly," Davis says. "It was pretty cool." Growing up in Chicago, Davis started roller-skating at an early age, but soon took to the ice. "At six years old, I tried it out," he says. "The closest rink to where I grew up in Hyde Park was in Evanston. It was quite a commute, but I just loved it from the ﬁrst day I stepped on the ice." Davis remembers feeling fortunate to ﬁnd a club where he could pursue his passion. "When I went to this Evanston rink, it was full of black speed skaters," he says. "And the head coach was black. So I went out there and I felt welcomed right away. It was like a playground on the ice." Today, Davis downplays his role as a trailblazer. "It doesn't make or break who I am," he says. "It doesn't matter what color I am. I would still want to go out there and win a gold medal." Davis actually has two gold # http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - January 2014

Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Hot Spots: Winter Festivals
Wine & Dine: Pastries
Style Spotlight: Carry-On Essentials
Diversions: ArtistWorks
Great Escapes: Hotel Zetta
Great Escapes: Quintero Golf Club
Gear Up: Smart Kitchen
Travel Feature: Vail and Beaver Creek Ski Resorts
US Airways: The Airline's Fleet
Winter Warriors: Olympic Athletes
Celebrate Oakland, CA
Best of Health: Miami Foot & Ankle Surgery
Cactus League
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - January 2014