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Three members of the Paralyzed Veterans of America will be ‘Going for Gold’ at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, China in September. Carlos Leon, age 23, Scot Severn, age 40 and Scott Winkler, age 35 will all compete for Team USA in the Track and Field throwing events. All three sustained life-altering injuries while serving our country and are proud to be competing for the USA!

Carlos is one of those guys who encourages everyone to “get involved.” He enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 16 and served with distinction in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His spinal cord injury was the result of a diving accident in June 2005, but with his positive attitude, it couldn’t keep him down for long. Less than a year later, he competed in his first National Veterans Wheelchair Games where he won two medals. Carlos would tell you that competing and participating in sports, “makes me feel better than any able-bodied [person] could feel in a lifetime.” He’ll be competing in Discus and Shot Put at the 2008 Paralympics.

View Carlos’s Military Times video interview »

Scot, an Army veteran, was injured in 1989 when he was struck by lightening as he worked on base. The lightening bolt left him with quadriplegia, but his competitive spirit was totally in tact.

When he’s not competing, Scot is busy with his family, spending time with his lovely, supportive wife and keeping up with all the action and activities of his three young children. He also serves as Sports Director for the Michigan Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans. Scot will be throwing Javelin and Discus for Team USA at the Beijing Paralympic Games.

View Scot’s Xable video interview »

Scott Winkler has a motto by which he lives, “If you believe; you can achieve.” That attitude has not only helped him rebuild his life after he incurred a spinal cord injury in Tikrit, Iraq in 2003, but it has helped him earn a spot on the USA Paralympic Track and Field Team. He’ll compete in both Shot Put and Discus in Beijing September 6-17.

Winkler considers it a great honor, saying, “It give me one more chance to serve my country. I did it on the battlefield … now I’m doing it on the playing field.”

Watch Scott in the New York Times video, Making the Team »