Dan Cnossen

Quick Facts

• Lt. Cmdr. Dan Cnossen was serving as the platoon commander for SEAL Team One in Afghanistan in September 2009 when he stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) and was wounded in the explosion. The accident caused Cnossen to lose both his legs just above the knee
• Cnossen went through rehabilitation first at the Bethesda National Naval Medical Center and later at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he learned to walk with his new prosthetics
• Cnossen was awarded both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with Valor from the Secretary of the Navy for his service in combat
• Hobbies include running, reading, traveling and surfing
• Grew up on a fifth-generation family farm in Kansas

Paralympic Experience

• 3-time Paralympian; 7-time Paralympic medalist (2 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze)
  • Paralympic Games Beijing 2022, gold (4 x 2.5km Relay Mixed - Mixed), 4th (6km Sprint - Sitting - Men), 6th (18km - Sitting - Men), 7th (12.5km Individual - Sitting - Men), 12th (10km Middle - Sitting - Men), 13th (1km Sprint - Sitting - Men)
  • Paralympic Games Pyeongchang 2018, gold (7.5km Sprint - Sitting - Men), silver (12.5km Middle - Sitting - Men, 15km - Sitting - Men, 15km Individual - Sitting - Men, 7.5km - Sitting - Men), bronze (1km Sprint - Sitting - Men)
  • Paralympic Games Sochi 2014, 6th (1km Sprint - Sitting - Men), 10th (10km - Sitting - Men, 15km Individual - Sitting - Men), 11th (12.5km Middle - Sitting - Men), 13th (15km - Sitting - Men), 14th (7.5km Sprint - Sitting - Men)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2025 – silver (4 x 2.5km Relay Mixed - Mixed), 7th (Sprint Classic Style - Sitting - Men), 10th (20km Freestyle - Sitting - Men)
• Years of participation: 20km Freestyle - Sitting - Men 2025; 4 x 2.5km Relay Mixed - Mixed 2025; Sprint Classic Style - Sitting - Men 2025; 10km Freestyle - Sitting - Men 2023; 4 x 2.5km Relay Open - Open 2022, 2023; Sprint Freestyle - Sitting - Men 2023; 10km - Sitting - Men 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2022; 10km Middle - Sitting - Men 2022; 12.5km Individual - Sitting - Men 2011, 2022; 1km Sprint - Sitting - Men 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2022; 6km Sprint - Sitting - Men 2022; 12.5km Middle - Sitting - Men 2013, 2015, 2019; 15km - Sitting - Men 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019; 15km Individual - Sitting - Men 2013, 2015, 2019; 7.5km Sprint - Sitting - Men 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019; H5 - Road Race - Men 2014, 2015; H5 - Time Trial - Men 2014, 2015; Team Relay - Open 2014; 2.4km Pursuit - Sitting - Men 2011
• Medals: 4 (4 silver)
  • Silver – 2025 (4 x 2.5km Relay Mixed - Mixed); 2019 (10km - Sitting - Men, 1km Sprint - Sitting - Men); 2014 (Team Relay - Open)