JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – He's a Paralympic gold medalist and an inspiration for anyone facing challenges in life.
Billy Hanning was born and raised in Jefferson County. He just got back from PyeongChang and has an incredible story to tell.
For Hanning, the feeling of putting on the Team USA jersey never gets old.
“It's pretty amazing,” he said.
His custom sled is his how he plays his favorite sport and these days his second home is on the ice. But Hanning never planned on being a hockey player.
“I used to skateboard when I was a teenager. I was one of those punks,” he said with a laugh.
In 2003, three weeks after graduating high school, a life-changing cancer diagnosis meant Hanning would likely lose his right leg.
"At the doctor’s office they said, ‘here's your options.’ That day I drove home with my left foot. I knew what I was going to do,” he said.
Recovery and chemotherapy weren't easy.
“I'd get depressed and things like that. I didn't feel like I had a place,” he said.
He said sled hockey helped pull him out of that funk.
Hanning signed up with the Disabled Athlete Sports Association and fell in love with the game immediately.
“From the first push!”
He played alongside Team USA goalie and Overland native Steve Cash as well as Team USA captain and Lindenwood graduate Josh Pauls.
“To be in that locker room with a bunch of guys who are going through the same thing you are is awesome. It's an outlet, you know?” he said.
In January, after 11 years of hard work, Hanning finally got the call. He would represent Team USA in his first Paralympics.
“When I called my wife to tell her about it, she was like, ‘Stop messing around,’” he said.
Hanning’s wife, Lauren, was in the stands as the Americans defeated Canada 2-1 in an overtime thriller and won the right to come home with gold medals around their necks.
“After the celebration and all the hugs, you start waiting for the medal ceremony. And it seems like it takes forever to get everything ready. Then you start looking around and you see your family. And you think of all their sacrifices. And you just have so many emotions,” he said.
Back in the states, Hanning, Cash and Pauls are giving back to their home team.
“These gold medal specialists are here, playing with their brothers, their team on our ice and being mentors to our juniors,” said Disabled Athlete Sports Association Founder Kelly Behlman. “Here we’re all about family and we’re so proud to call them part of our family.”
Hanning hopes his story will inspire the next generation of Paralympians.
“You know, nobody ever feels like they deserve to have cancer. But you have to push past that and say what can I do? And move on,” he said.
So, what's next for Hanning, you ask?
“I start back to work on Monday,” he said with a laugh.
He’ll take a well-deserved break before resuming play with the national team.
Disabled Athlete Sports Association offers many sports to people with disabilities. The organization is always looking for new athletes, volunteers and donors.
Click here to learn how you can get involved.
