Dan Cnossen - Navy SEAL To Paralympic Athlete —One Day At A Time

Talking points: Navy SEALS, grit, BUD/S, hardship, mindset, rehabilitation, paralympics

We had some network issues near the end, so Dan is coming back for round 2 soon! I'm grateful for every single interview I get to do, but it's less often that I'm so deeply humbled. Listening to Dan's story, and his thoughtful and considerate approach to such intense trauma, is something that will stick with me for a long, long time.

Listen to this episode for a gripping and honest look into the life of an incredible athlete.

(00:00:00) - Welcome and Dan's defining moment

(00:06:09) - What was BUD/S like for Dan? What were some the greatest lessons?

(00:19:20) - What goes into being a SEAL?

(00:27:41) - What was your first deployment like?

(00:33:11) - How Dan lost his legs

(00:42:00) - The aftermath and the injuries

(01:02:51) - Where did the desire to become a paralympic athelete come from?

Lieutenant Commander Dan Cnossen was serving as the platoon commander for SEAL Team One in Afghanistan in September 2009 when he stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) and was wounded in the explosion. The accident caused Cnossen to lose both his legs just above the knee. After over forty surgeries, Cnossen went through rehabilitation at the Bethesda National Naval Medical Center and later at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he learned to walk with his new prosthetics. Dan was awarded both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with Valor from the Secretary of the Navy for his service in combat. Grew up on a fifth-generation family farm in Kansas, and his hobbies include running, reading, traveling, and surfing.

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