Cartersville native says winning Paralympic medal was a 'pure feeling of happiness'

March 29th, 2022

Georgia lawmakers are honoring a Cartersville athlete for winning a silver medal at the Paralympic games in Beijing.

The triumph came six years after Garrett Geros was badly injured in a car wreck.

Geros, 22, says having his left leg amputated and his right leg broken meant not only a physical challenge but also a mental one. The former three-sport high school athlete said returning to wrestling and taking up snowboard cross after his wreck helped him overcome depression.

“If people don’t know what snowboard cross is, it’s like a motocross track, downhill on snow,” said Geros. “We go about 50-60 miles an hour over rollers and jumps. It’s exciting.”

He says since his wreck, he had never felt a “pure feeling of happiness” until earlier this month when he zipped past the finish line at the Paralympic Games.

“It’s hard to describe — it’s a feeling I’ve never had before and it’s an honor to be able to put that silver medal around my neck, not only for the United States but for Georgia,” said Geros.

Geros credits his family with being his “biggest support system.”

“I’ve been working for the past six years since I lost my leg because I’ve been wanting to do something big with this,” said Geros. “Finally, to get the call that I’m going to Beijing was one of the greatest moments — not only for me but for my family and to praise God through that, it’s been amazing.”

Geros was presented with a Senate resolution at the Capitol on Tuesday by state Sen. Bruce Thompson.

“You serve as quite an inspiration to not only young people, but to everyone in the state of Georgia and to the entire world,” said Thompson.