Shaquille Vance, a U.S. Paralympian, trains at the fitness center track at RAF Lakenheath, England, Aug. 20, 2012. More than 50 U.S. Paralympians and hopefuls, including wounded and injured U.S. service members, were honing their skills and making final preparations for competition in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Connor Estes)

From the start of the London Olympics through the closing ceremonies, we watched American athletes compete every day filled with patriotism and excitement. But for some athletes currently competing in the London Paralympics, Aug. 29 to Sept. 9, they are doing more than just wearing the American flag – they are wearing or have worn a uniform.

Of the 227 members of the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team, 20 are active-duty service members or veterans, some injured during their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. These world-class athletes are showing their countrymen and the world that it’s possible to overcome physical injuries, psychological health challenges and still excel.

The predecessor to the modern-day Paralympics was first held in England in 1948, for World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries. The Paralympics have since expanded to include athletes with physical, visual and intellectual disabilities competing in 19 sports – it’s now the world’s second largest sporting event after the Olympics, with a record 165 nations competing this year with 4,200 athletes.

Competing veterans and service members have applied the ethos, training, discipline and resilience they learned in the military to their recovery and subsequent training, spending hours with teammates on the court, in the pool and in the gym. They have exhibited the same traits needed to succeed in the military to recover from their injuries and move forward with their lives – sacrifice, dedication and teamwork.

A number of Olympic/Paralympic training sites exist across the country, giving service members and veterans the opportunity to represent Team USA every four years during the world’s greatest sporting event.

Check out the profiles of all the American athletes, service members and veterans competing in this year’s Paralympic Games. After reading the stories below of these heroic veterans and service members, you will be amazed and inspired by their resilience and ability to overcome obstacles.

Who knows, maybe we’ll see you in the 2016 Paralympics or Olympics.

Service Member Profiles – U.S. Paralympic Team

U.S. Army
Lewis “Dugie” Denton, 43, is a retired Army private first class competing in archery. A mechanic, Denton was seriously injured during Operation Desert Shield and medically retired when he was 30.

Jerry Shields, 57, was a staff sergeant in the Army National Guard and is an archer. With the right side of his body paralyzed because of a stroke, Shields uses his left arm and hand to hold the bow and his teeth to pull the bowstring.

Russell Wolfe, 43, is an Army veteran of 11 years competing in archery. He was paralyzed from the waist down during a hunting accident.

Jennifer Schuble is competing in cycling. While a junior at West Point, she sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI). She later sustained another TBI and crushed her arm in a serious car crash, and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Eric Hollen is participating in shooting events. He was an active-duty Army Ranger for nine years and lost the use of both legs after a farm accident.

Kari Miller is in the sitting volleyball competition. After serving in Bosnia and Korea, Miller was awaiting an officer promotion and was on leave visiting family in Washington, D.C., when she was hit by a drunk driver and lost both legs in the accident.

Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Olsen, 33, is an active-duty rifle shooter with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. He served tours of duty in Kosovo and Korea, and had his right leg amputated after he was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade while serving in Iraq.

Gavin Sibayan, 31, was a military police officer and is competing in seven-a-side soccer. He survived several blasts from improvised explosive devises (IED) while serving in Iraq, which caused TBIs and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Centra “CeCe” Mazyck is competing in track and field in the javelin event. She was paralyzed from the waist down during an airborne training accident at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Scott Severn, 42, is competing in track and field in the javelin, discus and shot put events. While on active-duty service in the Army Reserves, Severn was hit by lightning and rendered a quadriplegic.

Scott Winkler is competing in track and field in the shot put and discus events. During a 2003 tour of service in Iraq, Winkler was paralyzed from the chest down after falling from an ammunition truck.

U.S. Air Force
Mario Rodriguez, a former staff sergeant, is competing in fencing. He had part of his leg and pelvis surgically removed after a tumor diagnosis. He competed in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games.

U.S. Navy
Will Groulx is competing in wheelchair rugby at the Paralympics and helped lead Team USA to a gold medal in the sport at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. He served in the Navy from 1995-2001 and had a spinal cord injury after a motorcycle accident.

Steve Peace, 38, is competing in cycling. The former surface warfare officer experienced a massive heart attack six years ago, which partially paralyzed the right half of his body.

Brad Snyder, a former lieutenant, is competing in swimming. Last September, while leading an explosive ordnance disposal team in Afghanistan, he was blinded by an IED blast. A year from his injury, he will swim at the Paralympics.

Christopher Clemens, a former Navy petty officer third class, is competing in track and field, in the long jump, 100 and 200 meter events. He was supporting Navy SEAL operations in Afghanistan in 2004 when he sustained a serious TBI from a rocket-propelled grenade blast.

U.S. Marine Corps
Angela Madsen is competing in track and field and is a record-holding rower. She is a 52-year-old grandmother of three, who served in the Marine Corps and was paralyzed from the waist down after a surgery.

Oscar “Oz” Sanchez is competing in cycling. He served in Marine Corps special operations for six years and during the summer of 2001 when he was transferring to the Navy to become a Navy Seal, he was in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident, leaving him with a spinal cord injury.

Rob Jones, 27, is competing in rowing. While a sergeant, his legs were amputated after an IED blast while serving in Afghanistan.

Rene Renteria, 23, is an active-duty corporal, competing in seven-a-side soccer. He sustained a serious TBI in a car crash last year and was in a medically-induced coma for three weeks. He is the only active-duty member of the Marine Corps competing in this year’s Paralympics.

Have you experienced psychological health concerns or TBI? Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury and Real Warriors Campaign provide resources to service members, families and providers to help promote recovery from injury. Learn more by following us on Facebook and Twitter.