Meet Adaptive Athlete: Mike Rios

Mike Rios grew up in the city of angels - Los Angeles, California where he spent his childhood playing instruments and every sport imaginable. He played sports with his friends around the neighborhood, recalling the camaraderie and bond formed through sport at an early age. 

 

After graduating high school and spending two years in college, Mike felt called to enlist in the United States Marine Corps where he served for 18 years, obtaining the rank of Gunnery Sergeant E-7. Mike deployed to Iraq three times (‘03, ‘05, ‘07) and to Afghanistan from 2009-2010 where he ultimately sustained his injury. 

 

In May of 2010, Rios and his unit were in Marjeh, Afghanistan engaged in a gunfight with a large number of enemy combatants. During the gunfight, Rios leapt up onto a berm to close the gap between himself and the enemy where he was struck with a rocket propelled grenade that launched him backwards and resulted in a traumatic brain injury. Mike underwent numerous surgeries to repair a broken left leg and was ultimately medically retired from the Marine Corps. 

 

After getting out, Mike recalls feeling very lost and felt that his body did not match up to what his mind wanted. Adjusting to his new reality, Mike has participated in multiple adaptive sports competitions and hopes to use his time at ATF to really sharpen his mental focus and steer it in a direction that brings him peace.