Jessica Long, with double amputation, is a paraswimming medallist
One of America’s most decorated athletes of all-time, a speaker, author, advocate and sports personality. She said: “With the never ending support of my family, I understood that the only thing that was going to impact my future was my attitude towards my life.”
Haven Shepherd, the US swimmer paralympian who survived a family suicide attempt in early age
“My parents detonated a bomb inside our tiny, thatched roof hut. I was supposed to die that night.” “I don’t remember the explosion. It’s strange to know something so traumatic happened to you that you shouldn’t be alive, but you have no memory of it. Even though it changed the trajectory of my life in the most profound way. One
John Edward Heath, after having his leg amputated, this former Marine won’t let anything stop him
“I’m the first amputee a lot of pro athletes have ever seen, let alone lifting the amount of weight that I do,” said Heath. “They don’t know the struggle of what it is being an amputee, and wearing a prosthetic. When I take off my running blade and take off my stump sleeve, and they see a large-scale of skin and blisters, they’re like, ‘Yo, what?’ And I’m like, ‘What?’ And they’re like, ‘How are you training on that?’ It just opened up a whole different conversation.”
Jack Eyers, having a disability doesn’t need to hold you back
Jack Eyers is a double World Champion after a huge couple of years racing the men’s VL3 200m.
His most recent success was in Halifax, Canada, after an incredible run in an exhilarating final saw him obtain the World title for a second time running, holding off the fight from the rest of the field to get ahead by just 0.16 seconds.
2021 saw Jack claim his first World title in Copenhagen, with Jack producing his trademark strong second half of the race to claw back the advantage and pip his British teammate Stu Wood on the line and claim the world crown. Jack concluded the 2022 season with a European best time as he powered to gold in Munich and cap off a fantastic year. In 2018, his first international season racing in canoeing, Jack won both European and World Championships bronze medals in the V1 200m VL3 class, a hugely impressive achievement. Fun fact about Jack aside from the sport, he became the first amputee to be crowned Mr England back in 2017.
Jack joined the Podium Potential Programme in 2018 having first began his sporting career in wheelchair basketball. He also competed in wheelchair racing, athletics, rowing and swimming but now believes he has found his sporting home in canoeing.
Kyle Maynard, with quadruple amputee, says: “No more excuses, Starts with you”
Kyle Maynard. “No Excuses”: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling And in Life.
Shaquem Alphonso Griffin, first player with one hand to be drafted in the NFL
He is 1.88 meters tall, weighs 104 kilos. He has aggression, great reflexes and reads the game very well. He has earned prestige and recognition for his abilities, not for his handicap. In fact, he has tried special gloves and some companies have even offered to make him a prosthesis with 3D printers. But Shaquem Griffin has ruled out everything. It feels more comfortable without one hand.
Sara Andrés de Madrid, España* Pág.3. Concientiza en su libro sobre las discapacidades
La Menina sujeta en una mano el libro de Sara Andrés ¿Sabes quién soy?. “Le hago la pregunta a la gente que la mira. Y la respuesta es que soy alguien como tú. Podemos tener rasgos diferentes pero todos somos iguales, seres humanos que sentimos y amamos, lo único que el envoltorio puede ser más o menos curioso. No mires con ojos de extrañeza sino de comprensión”
Sara Andrés de Madrid, España * Pág.2. Paralímpica y escritora infantil
¿Sabes quién soy? es un cuento en el que cinco niños tienen algún tipo de discapacidad: física, visual, parálisis cerebral. Nos enseñarán cómo viven con la discapacidad y cómo esta, en muchos casos, se convierte en una SÚPERCAPACIDAD.
Sara Andrés de Madrid, España * Pág.1. Medallista paralímpica
Perdió sus piernas en el 2011 a causa de un accidente automovilístico, desde ese momento dice: “prefiero no tener pies y saber a dónde voy, que tenerlos y estar perdida”. Ahora es una medallista paralímpica en atletismo, relevo universal y salto de longitud.