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Oregon Purple Heart recipient to compete in Paralympics

From Purple Heart to gold medal, Rico Roman is once again representing his country.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- From Purple Heart to gold medal, Rico Roman is once again representing his country.

This time its at the Paralympic Games in PyeongChang, where he'll be suiting up with Team USA to compete in sled hockey.

His wife Ela says he lives by a motto.

“If you can imagine it, you can believe it. If you believe it, you can achieve it. He says it's all about psyche," she said.

Roman, who is from North Portland, is a retired Army staff sergeant who had his leg amputated after hitting an improvised explosive device (IED) during his third tour in Iraq. He’s a Purple Heart recipient and an inspiration, especially to his mother Connie.

“I just thank the Lord I still have him. I’m so blessed my son is so powerfully strong. He made me stronger, he made all of us stronger," she said.

Now he’s serving his country in a different way: as a gold medal-winning hockey player. The 37-year-old father of two is one of the faces of Team USA in commercials and advertisements leading up to the games.

Roman is Mr. Reliable, on and off the ice.

“He’s very fun, really outgoing, the life and soul of any party. I would say the thing that I love most about him is he’s really dependable,” said Ela. “He’s my rock, he’s everyone’s rock, everyone can count on him. You know where you are with Rico and he transfers that to his training."

His family plans to be in South Korea to cheer him on. The Paralympic Games begin March 8.

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