Rogers sponsors former patient’s Olympic dreams

11/15/17 04:53:pm

Rogers Behavioral Health is sponsoring former patient Paul Schommer, who is attempting to qualify for the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Paul is vying for a spot on the biathlon team—where he combines his love of cross country skiing and rifle marksmanship.

Paul came to Rogers in high school after an eating disorder had gotten out of control. After an inpatient stay and three months at the Eating Disorder Center, Paul was able to start rebuilding his life.

Though he worried that his eating disorder wouldn’t allow him to be active in sports anymore, he soon found cross country skiing to be therapeutic while also allowing him to scratch a competitive itch. In college, he competed as a member of the NCAA Nordic Ski Program at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN. His coach there noticed his talent, and convinced him to give the biathlon a shot. Following his graduation, he has had a full-time career as a biathlete and now has a chance to represent the US at the 2018 winter games.

Paul recently visited Rogers so he could speak to the current patients in the eating disorders program and let them know that they can also succeed. Rogers is proud to sponsor Paul as he makes his run at qualifying for the 2018 Olympics and wishes him the best.