Meet Adaptive Athlete: Bo Jones

Bo Jones was born in Twin Falls, Idaho and had an extremely active childhood. A definite adrenaline junkie, Bo wrestled, rode bikes and motorcycles, skated, swam, and did cliff jumping. He remembers feeling a rush and freedom every time he participated in one of these activities and attributes his hunger for adventure to his father, who taught him to seek mental and physical challenges in order to see the accomplishments of your hard work. 

 

Bo enlisted in the United States Army in 2010 upon graduating high school and was stationed in Fort Wainwright, Alaska as an 11C infantryman. His first deployment came in 2011 and took him to Panjwaii, Afghanistan where he served as a gunner on the company commander’s vehicle. On February 7th, 2012, he was on patrol with his unit when he stepped on an IED or improvised explosive device. Bo sustained a shattered pelvis, a completely shattered left elbow, and lost both of his legs in the blast, resulting in a double above the knee amputation. 

 

Bo went through numerous surgeries to fuse and repair his elbow after the blast as well as the amputation on both legs. Despite struggling for a few years post injury, Bo recognizes the people around him supporting and giving him opportunities to succeed despite his setbacks. Working on his mental strength and attitude, he has improved his quality of life and recovery after separating from the Army. 

 

Bo wants to use ATF to continue to improve physically, but more than that he wants to sharpen his mental tools in order to keep making strides socially as well. He wants to learn how to relax and exercise patience more regularly. He hopes to become more comfortable walking on his prosthetics and develop more strength and balance on them.