SC Featured and Jon Stewart combine to tell story of inspiring Warrior Games athlete

Jon Stewart (R) interviews Maj. Christina Truesdale during the taping of an SC Featured segment regarding her participation in next week’s Warrior Games. (Chris Duzan/ESPN)

Jon Stewart (R) interviews Maj. Christina Truesdale, a flight surgeon, jumpmaster and veterinarian who has overcome life-threatening injuries. (Chris Duzan/ESPN)

The Sunday, June 3, “SC Featured” segment on SportsCenter will tell the story of U.S. Army Maj. Christina Truesdale, a competitor in next week’s Department of Defense Warrior Games being held at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. The Warrior Games is a multi-sport event for wounded, injured or ill service personnel and veterans.

Truesdale, a flight surgeon, jumpmaster and veterinarian, has dealt with several injuries and health challenges that almost took her life. She was inspired to compete in the Warrior Games after seeing some of last year’s event on ESPN.

Jon Stewart, former host of “The Daily Show” who has for years been an advocate for veterans, interviewed Truesdale for the feature.

Chris Duzan, who produced the segment for ESPN Features, talked with Front Row:

What is it that resonated with you about Christina?
Christina’s story definitely inspires me. The way she has handled adversity in her life is a good lesson for all of us. You can’t always choose the cards you are dealt, but you can choose how you play them.

What stands out to you from making the feature?
I would say one of the best experiences during the shoot was working with Jon Stewart. The way he uses comedy in certain situations to relax a subject was really interesting to see. Also, Jon had never shot a bow before. His first time shooting, he pulled the bow back about halfway, fired, and the arrow barely got to the wall. Jon then celebrated ‘I hit the wall!’ He and Christina had a good laugh about that.

What would you like for viewers to take away from this?
I hope viewers see Christina’s story and really take the time to think about what the men and women who compete in the Warrior Games sacrificed for us. I hope they find inspiration in Christina and realize that if she can overcome the injuries that she sustained that any of us can overcome our struggles as well.

The segment will debut in the 10 a.m. ET edition of SportsCenter and re-air in other editions throughout the day. Anchor Hannah Storm will be at the Warrior Games and will host segments from the event on Monday and Tuesday editions of SportsCenter.