Whistler, British Columbia. Canada. (February 11, 2025): What follows is a story of one person’s successful struggle against tremendous odds that literally defines the word “resilience”. In this photo by Michel Sauret, Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Angela Harris displays the Bronze Medal she earned in the novice alpine adaptive skiing event at the 2025 Invictus Games. Harris was one of fifty American competitors participating in the first ever winter sports edition of the games. The events features “adaptive sports” where members of the armed forces who are wounded or ill can display their spirit in competition. Harris is just one of many of these competitors whose stories are both tragic and inspiring.

Harris joined the Coast Guard in 1998 and was stationed in Alaska with the Arctic Operations team in 2005. In February 2022 during a routine visit to the local library, Harris was attacked by a mentally deranged person who stabbed her in the back with a knife as she was returning books. The assault damaged nerves in her spinal cord, leaving her unable to walk. For most people, the loss of mobility would be demoralizing. Not for Angela Harris.

Just two years after losing her legs, Harris took part in her first adaptive sports training camp at Port Hueneme, California. Not only that, she also worked tirelessly to convince state legislators and the Governor to support legislation to combat crime and protect victims. At her first Invictus Games appearance, Harris participated in snowboarding, Biathlon, Indoor Rowing, Nordic Skiing, Sitting Volleyball, Skeleton, Swimming, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Curling, and Wheelchair Rugby.

This year’s games saw over five hundred participants from up to twenty-five countries compete including athletes from the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Special Operations Command.

Incidentally, Harris’ two oldest daughters are Navy Corpsman and her youngest, inspired by her performance at Invictus, has decided to enlist after high school.