College of Education and Human Development

Jason Sturm Places 1st in Para-Bobsled for Team USA

Congratulations to sophomore Jason Sturm!

Sturm, of Herndon, Virginia, placed first for Team USA in the first-ever Para-Bobsled World Cup, held in January in Igls, Austria and St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Enrolled in the Kinesiology program at the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism at George Mason University, Sturm ended up taking the spring semester off after receiving a call from the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation. Familiar with his reputation as a power athlete, the federation invited him to train and try out for a spot in para-bobsled, an event vying to be included in the Paralympic Games at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Sturm, representing the United States, ended up coming in first at the World Cup, while his friend and training partner Corie Mapp from Great Britain came in second. “He’s actually a lot better driver than I am. I just outraced him that day,” says Sturm.

The inaugural World Cup competition featured athletes representing the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Latvia, Spain, Austria, Australia, Switzerland, and Denmark. For Sturm, it was the incredible culmination of five weeks of intensive training, learning how to drive the track by feel under the guidance of coaches from the U.S. Adaptive Bobsled Team.

“Day one of training runs, when they brought me to the edge for my first run as a driver ― I was in the sled shaking like a leaf,” says Sturm.

The ride was wildly exhiliarating, though, and he knew he was in the right place when, after crashing not once but twice, he was less concerned about injuries than about qualifying.

“As the sled stopped and the track crew flipped me back over, all I could say was, ‘Send me back up! I’m fine, send me back up!’”

A sophomore at George Mason, Sturm is the kind of nontraditional student that the university makes itself accessible to. “Twelve years ago, I was career Army, but life had other plans,” says Sturm, who was injured in an artillery accident at Fort Drum, New York, that resulted in the loss of his left leg below the knee.

After leaving the service, Sturm worked as a programming consultant for a cybersecurity firm. While it paid well, it was definitely not a calling. “I hated it.”

What he really wanted was to pursue a degree in kinesiology. He became the proud recipient of a 2013 Pat Tillman Foundation military scholarship and enrolled in the Kinesiology program at George Mason.

“I would never have guessed that I'd land where I am: CrossFit coach, ambassador for adaptive athletics and wounded soldier programs, and looking at the possibility of becoming an Olympic athlete," he says. "To me, it’s proof that you can’t waste your time looking back. Accept where you are right now, who you are, and then take a step forward.”

This month, Sturm was back on the Fairfax campus to meet with an academic advisor and plan out his next steps toward a degree. He'll be taking courses this summer and will continue to balance his studies with training, work, and family.

In the meantime, Sturm coaches CrossFit at several gyms, including the nonprofit CrossFit Walter Reed. He also uses his experience and first-hand knowledge to teach adaptive seminars for coaches.

“I love watching people transform, gain confidence, and overcome their fears," says Sturm. "Coming to George Mason, I decided it was time to make the leap myself.”

Jason Sturm, a sophomore at George Mason University, balances his coaching work, family responsibilities, training, and studies while working towards a degree in kinesiology.

To learn more about the Kinesiology program, students are invited to make an appointment to speak with an academic advisor or email srht@gmu.edu.

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About CEHD

George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) includes two schools: the Graduate School of Education, one of the most comprehensive education schools in Virginia, and the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism. CEHD offers a full range of courses, certificates, and degree programs on campus, online, and on site to more than 4,000 students each year. CEHD is fully accredited by NCATE, and all licensure programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Education. George Mason University, located just outside of Washington, D.C., is Virginia's largest public research university.

For additional information:

• CEHD Communications: cehdnews@gmu.edu
• School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism: rht.gmu.edu
• Kinesiology program: rht.gmu.edu/kine

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