Going for Gold in Milan

A three-time sled hockey gold medalist, University of Texas at Austin alumnus Jen Lee has spent the past seven weeks training for what will be his final Paralympics as goalie for the United States' Sled Hockey team. During the two months leading up to the 2026 Winter Paralympics, which begin March 6, Lee has been training full time as part of the national team's residency in Colorado. Players have spent four days a week training on the ice, with the rest of the week spent on off-ice conditioning, including lifting and recovery exercises.

Of the 17 players on the team, four are rookies, and they've affectionately dubbed Lee "Papa Jen." As one of the oldest members of the team, Lee has enjoyed mentoring the younger players throughout this residency, and he said this experience feels different from the past three.

"Knowing it's my last one, I'm just trying to embrace everything," Lee said. "Whether it's in residency, in training camp every day, ups and downs, good practice, bad practice, I'm just soaking it in. You kind of want things to slow down."

The U.S. Sled Hockey team has taken home gold during the past four Paralympic Games, and though that might put pressure on some, Lee said it doesn't faze him.

"I think I'm just kind of learning from all the other experiences leading up to this. Since Beijing, we've had very successful seasons, but also some tough losses, too. Those things prepare me for where I need to be," said Lee. "When the puck drops in Milan, we've just got to play. All the outside noise, it doesn't matter. It's about your teammates and the other guys on the ice."

These Games are also special because Lee has a big group of friends and family, including his daughter, who are traveling to Milan to watch him play. Despite this being his fourth appearance, it will be the first time they've been able to see him play in person at the Paralympics. After the Games, Lee is planning to stay in Italy for a little over a week, eating Italian food, sightseeing and taking a trip out to Lake Como.

Lee's paths to both sled hockey and college were unique. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army with the intention of making it his career. However, after returning from active duty in 2009, Lee lost his left leg in a motorcycle accident and found his way to sled hockey - a sport he'd previously known nothing about - through a Department of Veterans Affairs physical therapy program in San Antonio. Then, in 2015 at the age of 28, Lee was accepted as a transfer student to UT, where he later graduated from the College of Education's Sport Management program.

Read more about Lee's time at UT and his journey to the Paralympics in this feature on the College of Education's website.