Retired Sgt. 1st Class Jorge Avalos participates in sports because it lets him “push himself to the max.” He credits the cycling in the Army’s adaptive reconditioning program with helping him through his recovery. “I broke my back and was initially paralyzed,” he said, in reference to the parachuting accident that caused him to freefall. “Cycling has given me strength and pushed me forward.” He hopes he will be able to compete in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, but before he gets there, he will focus his attention on the Invictus Games, where he will compete not only in Cycling, but also in Swimming and Athletics. “It’s an honor to represent the United States and the Army and show that life doesn’t have to stop just because it has changed,” he said.