(NEXSTAR) - From his start as a recreational curler in Denver, Paralympic wheelchair curler Dan Rose recently completed his first Paralympic Games in Italy, representing the United States and marking a milestone in his career. Rose joined Team USA in 2021 and competed in a nine-game round-robin tournament during the games in Italy. Rose progressed through a specialized developmental program for one and a half years prior to reaching the national level. During his Paralympic debut, he relied on advice from veteran teammates regarding the mental strain and focus required for the long days of the international schedule. The results may not have been what Rose and his teammates wanted, but the experience and strong performances against teams from Sweden, South Korea and Italy, give him a sense of mixed emotions. "I feel like we really showed our true potential in a few of the games," Rose said. "The amount of mental strain that we go under... we're out there on the ice actually trying to maintain our mental focus for two and a half 3 hours each game," the curler said. While the team secured definitive wins in matches that ended by the sixth or seventh end, they also faced unexpected losses that impacted their overall standing. The physical and mental demands of the round-robin schedule were a primary challenge for the team. Rose's curling journey began after moving to Colorado from Wisconsin. A friend and recreational therapist in Wisconsin informed him about a veteran's wheelchair curling camp in Denver. After performing well at the initial camp, Rose was invited to an athlete ID camp and was subsequently selected for a developmental program. Rose spent approximately one and a half years in the developmental program before making the U.S. national team in 2021. He has remained a member of the national squad since that time. Prior to his injury, the athlete grew up playing hockey. During his recovery at a Department of Veterans Affairs rehabilitation center in Tampa, Florida, recreational therapists introduced him to various adaptive sports, including hand cycling, wheelchair rugby and basketball. The curler said he initially feared his injury would leave him on the sidelines watching life pass him by. "I slowly kind of figured out that the only thing that really changed was sort of how I go through the world, not who I am in it," the athlete said. He emphasized that finding an outlet to be athletic and competitive allowed him to participate in sports he grew up loving. This involvement also introduced him to a new community, which he credited with helping his mental state and personal life. Rose said he met his wife after his injury, a possibility he had not previously envisioned. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published