From tragedy to triumph: Paralympian Steve Emt's 30-year redemption journey
Steve Emt's life changed forever in 1995 when a drunk-driving accident left him paralysed from the waist down. At just 25 years old, the former basketball player faced a long road to recovery—and a secret he kept hidden for months. Now, decades later, he competes at the Paralympics and shares his story to warn others about the dangers of impaired driving.
Emt had always been an athlete. He played high school basketball before joining the UConn team under coach Jim Calhoun in the 1993-94 season. But in 1995, while driving drunk on I-84 in Connecticut, he crashed his car. The accident left him paralysed.
For six months, he lied about the cause, blaming a deer for the collision. It wasn't until nearly half a year later that he admitted the truth. The guilt led him to speak at high schools, urging students to avoid drunk driving.
Seventeen years after the crash, a stranger saw potential in Emt and introduced him to wheelchair curling. By 2015, he was competing at the world championships. He later represented the US at the 2018 and 2022 Paralympic Games.
Team USA supported his return to the sport, helping him qualify for the 2026 Milano Cortina Paralympics through strong performances in the 2023, 2024, and 2025 world championships. Now competing in Milan Cortina, Emt remains focused on both his athletic career and his mission to inspire others with disabilities.
Emt's journey from a drunk-driving accident to Paralympic success spans nearly three decades. He continues to compete at the highest level while using his story to educate young drivers. His work with Team USA and his public speaking highlight a commitment to turning personal tragedy into a message of resilience and responsibility.
