Meet Adaptive Athlete: Joel "Keon" Wright

Joel “Keon” Wright grew up in Corsicana, Texas and fell in love with sports from an early age, playing basketball, baseball, football, and golf. In true High School Musical fashion, he was also president of the drama club his senior year.   

 

After graduating highschool, Joel went on to pursue a degree from New York Film Academy before ultimately deciding to put his dream on hold to answer a higher calling, enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He served as an infantry assaultman and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan multiple times. In June of 2011, while conducting an operation in Marjah, Afghanistan Joel was hit in the face by enemy gunfire resulting in multiple broken bones in his face and jaw. 

 

After getting out of the Marines in 2013, Joel has continued his rehabilitation process, going through multiple surgeries on his back and knees. He admits that after his injury and transition from the military he has struggled with alcohol but recently quit in order to focus on his mental and physical health. 

 

While he is at ATF, Joel hopes to continue on his journey of self discovery and healing through our mindset program as well as work on his physical strength on the training floor. He wants to “rise above the pain and suffering” he has dealt with since his injury.