HELENA — With Olympic action wrapping up over the weekend, the countdown to the Paralympics in Italy is under way.
Helena’s Katie Verderber is set to represent Team USA in mixed wheelchair curling. Before taking off for Italy to compete, Verderber stopped by her home ice at Steed Arena to lead an adaptive curling session open to the public.
“I think out of everything that’s been happening since being named to the team, my biggest hope is to get awareness to people with disabilities and to get them out and doing things and trying new things," Verderber said. "And I’m extremely excited to get to be a part of this (Saturday).”
Verderber is a medically-retired U.S. Army veteran who, in the span of just two years, went from finding out she’d be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life to learning she’d been selected to represent Team USA.
From TeamUSA:
Katie Verderber was raised in Valier, Montana. Verderber was a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the United States Army and deployed to Afghanistan in 2019. After she was medically retired from the Army, due to a back injury she suffered in Afghanistan that caused permanent damage to her spine, she returned home to Montana, where she is a practicing attorney focused on business and contract disputes, real estate matters, and probates.
Verderber took up wheelchair curling in 2024 and the following year was named to the U.S. Paralympic Team for the Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Verderber said after making the team: “It’s hard to believe I found out two years ago I would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life to learning I’m going to be a Paralympian."
“It’s inspiring to me. I never would’ve thought I could have a platform and help other people and do this myself,” said Verderber. “It’s incredible. (It’s) been a long two years, and we’re just getting started.”
But above all, Verderber said she hopes her story inspires other wheelchair users and people with disabilities to keep pressing forward.
“I wish I had heard that earlier on, right after my injury, that it’s OK to be angry,” said Verderber. “And it’s OK to wish things could be different. But it’s also OK to enjoy things and try new things. And maybe it’ll be something that’ll change your life like curling has been for me.”
First draw for Team USA in Italy is set for March 7 against China.
