Sean O’Neill, a resident of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has been chosen to represent Team USA in curling at the upcoming Paralympic Winter Games in Italy. Paralyzed from the waist down following a college car accident, O’Neill discovered the sport four years ago and quickly rose to international level. His selection marks him as the fourth Paralympian from the Cape Cod Curling Club.
The Paralympic Winter Games, featuring athletes with disabilities, are set for March in Italy, following the Winter Olympics in February. Curling, often described as a blend of chess and shuffleboard on ice, will see Team USA compete among ten nations for gold medals.
O’Neill, who became paralyzed from the waist down due to a severe car accident during his college years, has long been passionate about sports. He participated in the Boston Marathon and took up curling about four years ago at the Cape Cod Curling Club in Falmouth. Despite his limited experience, he earned a spot on the national team.
“There’s not a point where I could have imagined being a Paralympian,” O’Neill said. He added, “I had always thought my athletic achievement would top out at my doing a marathon or two. Nothing about being on a world stage, being at the Paralympic Games. Playing sports on TV sounds insane, but that’s something I will do. So surreal is a huge understatement for it.”
Coach Pete Annis praised O’Neill’s rapid progress: “He’s a good teammate, and in his young career, his strategy and knowledge are outstanding, and he’s a great leader.”
O’Neill’s journey offers inspiration to others with disabilities. “I think an easy answer is that you don’t have any limits. But I think there’s something to be said for understanding your disability, embracing what your ability is, and making the most of it to be the best you can,” he reflected.
Deeply rooted in his hometown, O’Neill expressed affection for Cape Cod: “I love Cape Cod, this is absolutely my favorite place in the world, to be on the Cape.” He credited the club’s inclusivity, calling it a “microcosm of the things I love about the Cape,” and feels honored to represent those values internationally. “It makes me emotional to think about it, to talk about it.”
This achievement makes O’Neill the fourth Paralympian from the Cape Cod Curling Club, highlighting the facility’s role in adaptive sports.
