Tyler Turner: From U.S. Youth Star To Pro Soccer Defender
Explore the career of Tyler Turner, a standout American soccer player known for his solid defense, youth national team experience, and professional journey across USL and MLS.
Jul 27, 20254.6K Shares111.1K Views
Biography
Tyler Turnerwas born on August 26, 1988, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and now lives in Campbell River, British Columbia. In 2017, he survived a skydiving accident from 10,000 feet that led to both legs being amputated below the knees. After waking from a coma, he worked through pain, depression, and addiction during his recovery.
Following the accident, Tyler returned to extreme sports. He chose para‑snowboarding and later became a skydiving instructor. He also tried adaptive surfing and continued pursuing what he loves.
At the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, Tyler Turner made history as the first Canadian to win a Paralympic gold medal in para‑snowboarding, taking gold in the men’s SB‑LL1 snowboard cross. He also won a bronze medalin banked slalom at the same Games.
He claimed multiple world titles too. At the World Para Snow Sports Championships in 2021 and 2022, he won gold in both snowboard cross and the team event (with teammate Alex Massie), plus a bronze in banked slalom.
During the 2023–24 World Cup season, Tyler Turner dominated Para snowboard cross, winning four races in six events and earning the Crystal Globeas the overall season champion. He also stood second in the combined standings for snowboard cross and banked slalom.
Outside of competition, Tyler is a public speaker and featured in the award-winning short film "Sixty Seconds", which shares his story of recovery and transformation. He also competed with his partner on Season 9 of The Amazing Race Canada, finishing second.
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