TAMPA, Fla. — An injured Tampa soldier is racing for gold in this year's Warrior Games.
- Injured soldier will power through another Warrior Games
- Lauren Montoya is determined to win
- Competing for U.S Special Operations Command
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Lauren Montoya, 28, developed a love for running when she enlisted in the Army.
"When you're out there, it's just you and your body and your mind," Montoya said.
But Montoya hesitated on whether to continue the sport after she was severely injured in Afghanistan in 2014.
"We were out on a mission when the truck I was in, we rolled over an IED," Montoya said. "I was actually the gunner inside the truck, got pinned inside the truck when the IED went off."
Montoya was so badly hurt, she eventually had her leg amputated.
But slowly, Montoya began to walk and then run again.
"Seeing my feet hit the pavement and my legs are moving like they're supposed to, it just felt normal," Montoya said.
Montoya called it her new normal.
And although she said she's in constant pain, Montoya powered through to win four medals in last year's Warrior Games, three gold and one silver.
This year, Montoya is competing in track and field, swimming and sitting volleyball for the United States Special Operations Command at MacDill.
