Catching Up With U.S. Paralympian Omar Bermejo of Grand Rapids [Audio]

He believes he can overcome.  He believes in himself.

A 31-year old former Marine from Grand Rapids, Omar Bermejo, has gone through quite a bit in his young life. He graduated from Grand Rapids' Union High School in 2000, spent nearly 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps rising to the rank of sergeant, but, in a motorcycle accident the happened here at home in 2009, lost his right arm. 

Did that hold him back? Nearly. 

Bermejo went through a period of depression after the amputation, looking for a reason to stay motivated after four deployments to Iraq.

He found it just weeks after the amputation while at the Tucson Veterans Administration Medical Center.  He learned about rehab doing biathlon, a combination of cross-country skiing and shooting. Did that get him going?  You bet it did.

Omar was a guest on my radio show today as he talked with me from Sochi, Russia, while he competes in the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics.