In His Third Paralympics At Age 23, Sled Hockey Star Brody Roybal Blended Youth With Poise
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Height
6'4"
Age
40
Hometown
Deming, NM
Education
University of Illinois-Champaign
Classification: Eligible
Quick Facts
- Son of Casey and Cheryl Dodson
- U.S. Marine veteran, Purple Heart recipient
- Competed on the wheelchair track and field team at the University of Illinois
Biographical Information
Travis Dodson grew up in New Mexico and was a member of his high school golf team. He joined the U.S. Marines after high school, and while serving a tour in Iraq on Valentine’s Day 2007, a grenade struck him, causing him to become a double amputee, losing his left leg at the hip and right leg below the knee.
While a student at the University of Illinois, Dodson became involved in adaptive sports, competing on the Illini wheelchair track and field team with future Team USA teammates Tatyana McFadden and Aaron Pike. All three went on to make the U.S. para Nordic skiing team for the Paralympic Winter Games Sochi 2014. Even though Dodson primarily competed in biathlon at the Sochi Games, he was drawn to the sled hockey team, which was winning gold and their camaraderie, and he took up Sled Hockey the following year.
Dodson made the sled hockey team for the 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympics, winning back-to-back gold medals with the squad.
Paralympic Experience
- 3-time Paralympian; 2-time Paralympic medalist (2 gold)
- Paralympic Games Beijing 2022, gold (Team - Mixed)
- Paralympic Games Pyeongchang 2018, gold (Team - Mixed)
- Paralympic Games Sochi 2014, 19th (1km Sprint - Sitting - Men), 20th (7.5km Sprint - Sitting - Men), 21th (15km Individual - Sitting - Men), 23th (10km - Sitting - Men)
World Championships Experience
- Most recent: 2024 – silver (Team - Men)
- Years of participation: Team - Men 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
- Medals: 4 (3 gold, 1 silver)
- Gold – 2023 (Team - Men); 2021 (Team - Men); 2019 (Team - Men)
- Silver – 2024 (Team - Men)
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