Posted on Feb 18, 2022
After losing both legs, a Navy SEAL from Topeka became one of the world's best Paralympians
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Retired Navy SEAL veteran Dan Cnossen will compete at the upcoming Winter Paralympics in Beijing in Nordic skiing events. Cnossen is arguably the world's best, earning six medals at the 2018 Winter Paralympics.
When you think of cross-country skiing, Topeka may not immediately come to mind — even though it’s flat, it doesn’t have quite enough snow. But it has given the world one of its best athletes in Paralympic cross-country skiing.
At the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Korea, Topeka native Dan Cnossen skied almost eight miles in one of his six races over a snow-covered course. It was a middle-distance sitting biathlon which combines skiing and shooting. Under any circumstances it would be an impressive feat, but it is even more so because Cnossen is without legs.
At certain points of the biathlon course, he stopped, plopped his body core on the shooting platform and aimed while on his elbows at a target about 32 feet away. The target was the size of a blueberry.
When you think of cross-country skiing, Topeka may not immediately come to mind — even though it’s flat, it doesn’t have quite enough snow. But it has given the world one of its best athletes in Paralympic cross-country skiing.
At the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Korea, Topeka native Dan Cnossen skied almost eight miles in one of his six races over a snow-covered course. It was a middle-distance sitting biathlon which combines skiing and shooting. Under any circumstances it would be an impressive feat, but it is even more so because Cnossen is without legs.
At certain points of the biathlon course, he stopped, plopped his body core on the shooting platform and aimed while on his elbows at a target about 32 feet away. The target was the size of a blueberry.
After losing both legs, a Navy SEAL from Topeka became one of the world's best Paralympians
Posted from kcur.orgPosted in these groups: 
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Navy SEALs Topeka
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
...""For me, and I admit it's very self-focused, but it's about being part of the action," Cnossen shared.
The former Navy SEAL won six medals at the 2018 Winter Paralympics, including a gold for the sprint distance sitting biathlon — combining skiing and target shooting.
“I crossed the line, didn’t look up at the results on the Jumbotron that’s up there. I told myself mentally not to do that. It affected me negatively in 2014 (at the Sochi Winter Paralympics),” said Cnossen.
Then Cnossen was told by an official while taking off his timing chip that he had won. “It was shocking to me,” he said.
As he stood on the podium during the ceremony, he thought about what it all meant.
“Seeing the U.S. flag go up, that was a big moment for me to reflect upon this journey,” he said referencing the roadside bomb that claimed both legs in Afghanistan 13 years ago.
Where it all began
Alice Landers, Cnossen's mother, said, "Growing up on the farm he shot BB guns a lot, and he became pretty good."
Landers still lives on the family farm outside Topeka. She said Dan grew up playing baseball and soccer. Then knowing he was bound for the Naval Academy, he took up track at Shawnee Heights High School."...
...""For me, and I admit it's very self-focused, but it's about being part of the action," Cnossen shared.
The former Navy SEAL won six medals at the 2018 Winter Paralympics, including a gold for the sprint distance sitting biathlon — combining skiing and target shooting.
“I crossed the line, didn’t look up at the results on the Jumbotron that’s up there. I told myself mentally not to do that. It affected me negatively in 2014 (at the Sochi Winter Paralympics),” said Cnossen.
Then Cnossen was told by an official while taking off his timing chip that he had won. “It was shocking to me,” he said.
As he stood on the podium during the ceremony, he thought about what it all meant.
“Seeing the U.S. flag go up, that was a big moment for me to reflect upon this journey,” he said referencing the roadside bomb that claimed both legs in Afghanistan 13 years ago.
Where it all began
Alice Landers, Cnossen's mother, said, "Growing up on the farm he shot BB guns a lot, and he became pretty good."
Landers still lives on the family farm outside Topeka. She said Dan grew up playing baseball and soccer. Then knowing he was bound for the Naval Academy, he took up track at Shawnee Heights High School."...
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