Sarah Bettencourt
“Instead of wearing the American flag on my shoulder patch of my flight suit, I now wear it on my chest. I am still able to represent our nation. I am still able to serve by helping others through adaptive sports – especially females. I am excited to take my para surfing to the next level, and then share and teach it to the world. I’m looking forward to helping others find joy, independence, and purpose through adaptive sports.” - Sarah Bettencourt (Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, retired)
Marine Captain Bettencourt was forced to retire from the Marine Corps in 2012 due to a neurological disorder just one month before earning her wings as a Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopter pilot. Betterncourt graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2005 and earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University while serving with the 23rd Marine Regiment.
Bettencourt loves adaptive sports, primarily hockey and surfing. She founded the San Diego Ducks Sled Hockey club, sponsored by the National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks and is a former USA Hockey Disabled Athletes of the Year. She was awarded a Move United grant to help with the cost of a surfing coach to help her win gold at the World Para surfing Championships last March.
