U.S. Paralympic sled hockey defenseman Nikko Landeros, who wrestled for Berthoud High School in Colorado. Photo by Steve DeMeo, USA Hockey

Just over three years ago, a terrible accident occurred which devastated the Colorado wrestling community and made major news headlines across the state and nation.

On January 15, 2007, Berthoud High School wrestlers Nikko Landeros and Tyler Carron had stopped alongside a road to fix a flat tire. Another vehicle slammed into Carron's car, pinning the two boys between cars. The injuries were very serious, and doctors ultimately had to amputate the legs of both young athletes. Support for the two wrestlers and their families came from across the nation, as they tried to recover from their injuries and put their lives back together.

This weekend, one of the injured wrestlers, Nikko Landeros, will put on a USA Hockey uniform and represent the United States in sled hockey at the Paralympic Games in Vancouver, Canada. 

Like all of the other young athletes who have assembled in Vancouver for the Paralympics, Landeros is enjoying the amazing experience of international competition.

"The village is wonderful. It's better than Disney World. I never thought I would be in this situation," said Landeros.

For Nikko, as well as Tyler, it has been a long and courageous battle which has inspired others from their community and around the nation. Tyler is also a successful sled hockey player, and has qualified for the U.S. Junior National Team. Both have come a long way since that dreadful night three years ago.

Landeros vividly remembers the love and support which he and Tyler received after the accident.

"It was great. The wrestling community was the biggest part of our comeback," said Landeros. "We got tons of support, donations and thousands of cards and letters. We wrestled, and everybody we knew helped us out."

Shortly after the accident, the boys were introduced to the sold-out Pepsi Center crowd at the Colorado State Wrestling Championships, a compelling moment in their difficult recovery period.

"At States, it was a great feeling. It is easier to get through tough things with people behind you and wanting to help you. We also went to the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Detroit, and people knew us there. We got some great things sent to us by Cael Sanderson, along with the guys from Iowa wrestling. It was really great for us," said Landeros.

Both wrestlers had to go through grueling physical therapy as part of their recovery. But it was not just the physical aspect of recovery which was difficult for Landeros. He remembers the biggest challenges he had to face at the time.

"It was probably when my arm was broken. I didn't have any legs and I had to crawl everywhere. The broken arm made it difficult. For just the first month, it was mentally tough, too. You have so many things go through your mind. But I got over that. So, then, the broken arm was biggest challenge," said Landeros.

Nikko decided that he wanted to wrestle again, and the next year, as a senior, he was back on the mats as a member of Berthoud's wrestling team.

"I thought it was fun. It was a little different. I was frustrated with myself. I didn't train as hard as I used to. I just wanted to hang around with my friends," said Nikko about his return to wrestling.

Even though he did not meet his goals during his senior season, Landeros is very pleased that he remained in the sport.

"Once I started making weight, I realized I had to work harder at it. It was one of the best things for me, getting back on the mat. I am a little disappointed I didn't make varsity. Now, if I was still wrestling, I would do much better. I know a lot of different things about using my body now. I still wrestle around with other people all of the time," said Landeros.

Nikko Landeros still identifies himself as a member of the wrestling community.

"It was the Carrons that got me into wrestling. I got upset with the basketball coach because he didn't play me enough. Once I got into the wrestling room, I was hooked. It was the greatest thing that happened to me. I love competitive sports. Wrestling is really competitive. I love the one-on-one competition," he said.

Both of the boys got prosthesis and went through the difficult task of learning how to walk again. Both of them also turned to sports as an important part of rebuilding their lives.

"I think (playing sports) is a way to channel your energy and your anger for what happened. Now, I don't think about what happened to me anymore, but at the beginning, it helped me a lot. It is great to stay active. Tyler and I walk a lot. Some people don't like to walk. It is tough, but once I overcame it, it was better. I hated not walking," said Landeros.

Along the way, Landeros rediscovered his interest in ice hockey, and a new athletic career was launched. He had played hockey as a kid, and when he was asked about playing sled hockey, he decided to check it out.

"Corey Fairbanks is on the sled hockey team and heard about our accident. They called my family up. We went to Fort Collins and they had a practice there. It was a short time after the accident and it was hard for me. I took a year off. Then something clicked. I wanted to find a sport I used to play. I found hockey again. I gave it a go," he said.

Landeros plays on the Colorado Avalanche team in Denver, which is a sled hockey program sponsored by the NHL team. Landeros says that the NHL Avalanche provide gear, sleds, icetime and financial support for the team. It gave him an opportunity to learn how to play sled hockey, and also has let him rub elbows with some of the NHL players.

"Joe Sakic came to our house. I've met Adam Foote. The team has signed gear for us. I have been down in their locker room. They are a humble group of guys. That is one thing about being disabled. You get to meet a lot of cool guys. Joe Sakic was always my favorite player so that was great to meet him," he said

Landeros became a defenseman, and truly enjoyed the challenge of the position. He gets to use some of the aggressiveness that he learned as a wrestler and football player.

"I get a chance to not let anybody score. Our core defensemen are good. We are very physical. We like to hit," he said.

Landeros not only plays sled hockey, but in two short years, he has become one of the best in the nation. He now has a chance to compete for a gold medal.

"Our goal is the gold-medal game. We are ranked No. 1 at the tournament. Our team won the World Championships. I wasn't on that team. I tried out after they won the gold. That was a big achievement for me because they already had a winning team. Our team is fast. We know we are good. If we play to our potential, and play the games one at a time, we will do very well."

He is also experiencing the special pride and pressure of an athlete who competes for his country.

"You feel like you have a different role. You play for more than yourself. You play for your country, your family, your friends. I also play for the wrestling community. The wrestling community is happy that we overcame what happened to us."

Landeros hopes that someday soon he will be playing on the same national sled hockey team as his friend and companion Tyler Carron.

"Tyler is on the Junior sled hockey national team. They play in the Western League. I'm hoping next year he makes the Senior team. He has the talent," he said.