Bay Area Athlete Qualifies For Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A Bay Area man is one of three California athletes to qualify so far for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy next month.

Jen Lee, a three-time Paralympian and gold medal winner in sled hockey, will take the ice during the games in March.

The 39-year-old was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and moved to the United States when he was six years old, according to his Team USA profile. He enlisted in the army after high school and served a combat tour in Iraq from 2006 to 2007.

Lee had his leg amputated above his knee following a motorcycle accident in 2009. A competitor in track and field and basketball before his accident, Lee was introduced to sled hockey by Operation Comfort, an organization that supports wounded military personnel and veterans through recreational or therapeutic activities.

He made his Olympic debut with Team USA during the 2014 games in Sochi, serving as the backup goalie to Hall of Famer Steve Cash. He became the team's starter during the 2022 games in Beijing, where he kept a clean sheet through four games.

“I’m very grateful to be part of three gold-medal teams for sure,” Lee said in a Team USA article in November 2025. “That first year, I was just getting my feet wet. By the third one, I was one of the older guys showing the ropes — giving pointers to the younger players and helping them find their way.”