Skokie native, Air Force veteran competes in 2022 Warrior Games after aneurysm, stroke

SKOKIE, Sick. (WLS) — Christian Vega, an Air Drive veteran and Skokie native, is the torchbearer for the 2022 Warrior Video games and a competitor in a few of its occasions.

In highschool, Vega was a swimmer, competed in cross nation and was a gymnast. Now he is a two-medal profitable Warrior Video games competitor, and extra.

In 2015, on his Air Drive base on the chow corridor, Vega collapsed from a mind aneurysm.

“I simply collapsed on the ground and so they took me to the hospital,” he recalled.

“When the physician instructed my mother, ‘Ma’am your son will most likely be a vegetable the remainder of his life,’ my Mother was like ‘not my son’,” he mentioned.

Later, he would have a stroke. He needed to re-learn issues most of us take with no consideration: talking, strolling, utilizing his legs once more.

“I realized to stroll thrice in my life,” mentioned Vega. “As soon as after I was a bay. As soon as after my mind aneurysm. And as soon as after my stroke.”

Vega competed in 4 Warrior Video games sports activities, together with shootings.

“I like doing monitor, I like doing swimming. And I like doing biking,” he mentioned.

Thus far, he has gained and silver and a bronze medal in biking. He is a frontrunner round his fellow teammates. And his success, he mentioned, has come from above.

“God did not depart me by the wayside. He raised me up. And I am right here as we speak due to God and due to the Air Drive and the Warrior program. As a result of with out them I would not know the place I’d be,” he mentioned.

Vega was chosen by his crew to be this yr’s torchbearer, nevertheless it obtained rained out. He was additionally chosen by his teammates final yr however the video games did not occur due to the pandemic.

Head to ESPN+ for full protection of the Warrior Video games by August 28, and click on right here to see a full schedule of protection and occasions.