Brett Bolton (Fin, Acct’28)
Photo above and of Brett Bolton with the Dalai Lama by Vishan Singh. Other photos supplied by Brett Bolton.
Talking with Brett Bolton, it’s clear why seeing him in front of the Himalayas feels symbolic. He has faced a series of uphill climbs in his life, particularly in 2025 when he was cut from the World Championship sled hockey team—a devastating blow.
But instead of dwelling on obstacles, Bolton focuses on opportunities. This year has brought plenty of them, from winning to meeting the Dalai Lama in India. He also completed his first 14er, reaching the summit of Mount Sherman.
“If I told someone what this year would have looked like, I think people would have called me crazy,” he said.
Making it to the 2026 Winter Paralympics was no accident. Bolton spent seven months transforming himself, dropping 40 pounds. While most students were hitting the snooze button, he was at the gym by 5 a.m. Before classes even began, he’d already spent hours training on and off the ice. When friends were out late indulging in fast food, you’d find Bolton eating a protein bar and broccoli, hitting the pillow by 10 p.m.
In other words, he’s willing to sacrifice and do what it takes. Born without a leg, abandoned in China, and adopted by parents in the United States, Bolton's determination has defined him. He competed in as early as age 6. Today, he said he even often forgets that he doesn’t have a leg.
Turning setback into motivation
This year began with uncertainty as waited to hear whether he’d earned a coveted spot on Team USA.
“It was a lot of up in the air, and that was very uncomfortable, but it was something I had to deal with. Coming off a huge loss from last season was definitely a driving factor in what made me push so hard for this season.”
A summer of reflection forced him to confront where he fell short. “A lot of that came down to a lack of discipline," he said. When he finally made the team, he called his mom first. “She's one of my biggest supporters and has told me to take risks and reach far.”
Bolton discovered he loved sled hockey in 2014 after Paralympian Greg Shaw introduced the sport near Bolton's hometown in Florida. “I loved being on the ice. I loved the physicality of the game. You know, a lot of people used to treat me as someone with a disability who couldn’t be touched … And I was like ‘I'm not fragile. I'm here to play.’”
“One of the things I have struggled with as an athlete and student is staying present. I’ve needed to consider how I can really enjoy the moment and still set myself up for success tomorrow.”
—Brett Bolton (Fin, Acct’28)
Making the team this past winter was only one milestone. “It was the most amazing feeling, but then I was like, it's not done until we win gold.” For him, the win was “exhilarating” and “surreal.”
His sights are already set on 2030. “I want to handle more responsibility and take more leadership roles within Team USA. Being able to grow the sport has been a sidebar mission of mine—really showing what accessibility, inclusion, disability and sports equity look like on a global scale.”
Success on and off the ice
Elite athletics haven’t stopped Bolton from achieving academically. “It's been challenging, but all my professors at Leeds have been incredibly supportive.”
Because Paralympic athletes don’t receive the same university support as NCAA student-athletes, Bolton says he has had to advocate for himself and invest in planning. “I really have to take the initiative before the semester starts.”
That mindset carries over into finance. “It's cliché, but it's compound interest. What you put in today affects tomorrow, and it adds up and builds over time.” Goal setting and positivity matter to Bolton in every facet of his life. He manages his own finances and funding for both college and his training, learning how to be strategic and creative with the resources he has.
Playing the long game
Strategic thinking is what drew Bolton to finance. “What I really like about finance is that it’s about projecting and making sure the numbers add up.”
But Bolton also knows that the sum of a life is more than just numbers. “One of the things I have struggled with as an athlete and student is staying present. I’ve needed to consider how I can really enjoy the moment and still set myself up for success tomorrow.”
As a leadership minor and Dalai Lama Fellow, meeting the Dalai Lama this past spring—who gave Bolton a personal blessing—left a lasting impression. “I don't have words for it. It was surreal to meet such a respected global figure.”
“Life will never be 100% the way you want it, but if you can control your anger and frustration, it'll make you unstoppable.”
—Brett Bolton (Fin, Acct’28)
Two lessons from the experience of traveling to India and Nepal, and meeting the Dalai Lama, have stayed with him. First, a revelation: Anger comes from selfishness, said Bolton. “Life will never be 100% the way you want it, but if you can control your anger and frustration, it'll make you unstoppable.”
Second: It’s all about perspective. “If the Dalai Lama can be content after being exiled from his own country and family, and he is still able to live without distractions—that shows what we can do in our own lives.”
And Bolton should know. He keeps pushing forward, refusing to be restricted by circumstances. But for him, success isn’t only about reaching the summit. Sometimes it’s just about pausing long enough to appreciate the view.
