Anthony Radetic of SOF Bionic

Anthony Radetic (born February 10, 1979) is an American alpine skier and veteran of the United States Army. As Spinal Cord Paraplegic due to injuries received in Fort Rucker, Radetic uses a sit-ski in competitions.

Born in Ft Lauderdale, Florida, Radetic, a native of Florida, graduated from Florida Air Academy High School in 1997. After graduating FAA he attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and pursued an Aerospace Engineering degree. In 2000, he joined the U.S. Army as a parachute rigger (92R).

Upon his enlistment, he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia where he completed airborne school. While stationed in Fort Bragg North Carolina, Radetic completed the Army's Primary Leadership Development Course. He attended Special Forces Selection course in Camp Mackall and was selected for Special Forces. Radetic was then picked to become a Special Forces communication sergeant (18E) and assigned to U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters as a sergeant (E5).
 

During this time the US Army began a new program, Army Laser Surgery Program, which allowed soldiers that have had photorefractive keratotomy (PRK) eye surgery partake in a special test program to attend the Army flight school. Sgt Radetic was selected for the program and was stationed in Ft. Rucker and promoted to WO1. He completed the Army helicopter flight training and became an Army aviator (153A). He was sent to Fort Benning GA to serve as a primary Blackhawk VIP pilot for the post general.

While in advance course training at Fort Rucker, Radetic was struck by a motor-vehicle while on his motorcycle that left him paralyzed.

 He sustained a spinal cord injury at the C2, C3, T7 and T8 levels. He remained in critical care for 40 days. Six years after his injury, Radetic tried skiing for the first time at a sports clinic in Snowshoe West Virginia. In 2012, he moved to Aspen Colorado to begin training seriously for international alpine skiing competitions. While training in Aspen, Radetic was filmed by Warren Miller crew while he landed his first back-flip on a mono ski, joining a select few.

Radetic also competes in various handcycling events; in 2007 he took 1st place in the Costa Rica Tamarindo Marathon, 2008 he took second place in Chicago marathon and 1st place in the 2013 and 2014 US Army full marathon in Texas.

Radetic is involved with the Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled Sports USA, Americas Fund (Semper Fi Team), Paralyzed Veterans of America and a peer counselor for the SOCOM Care Coalition.

PWC BACKGROUND EVENTS:

Participant of the 2013 Never Quit Challenge

2013 Faces of Our Freedom

2014 LB2CAT National PWC Offshore Championship in California

2014 Aqua X P1 race in St. Cloud Florida

2015 Ironman competitor at the Mark Hahn 300 in Arizona.

2015 AquaX P1 race Daytona Beach Florida

2015 AquaX P1 race Jacksonville Florida

2015 AquaX P1 race Sarasota Florida

2015 LB2CAT National PWC Offshore in California 3rd Place

2015 AquaX P1 race St. Cloud Florida

2015 Prowatercross closed course Lake Hawthorn GA 2nd place

2015 Dana Point to Oceanside Offshore race in California

2015 AquaX offshore and close courserace in Cocoa Beach Florida. 

In 2014 Radetic won two Silver Medals back to back in Handcycling at the inaugural Invictus Games in London