6 Athletes with Disabilities Who Inspire Us
Anyone who watches the Paralympics knows the vast number of athletes with disabilities who, undeterred by their physical impediments, strive every day to push boundaries and defy expectations.
These athletes, though far from being the only sportspeople to amaze and inspire, are true icons and constant reminders never to give up.
1. Bethany Hamilton - Surf Star and Movie Star
Bethany is a well-known professional surfer who lost an arm in a shocking shark attack at the young age of 13. Though this would be enough to put most off returning to the water for life, Bethany took on the waves again just weeks after her ordeal.
With the help of a specially adapted surfboard, Bethany went on to compete in national and international competitions, fearlessly taking on able-bodied athletes. Her story was so inspiring that she became the subject of a Hollywood movie, Soul Surfer, starring Helen Hunt.
Bethany is not only inspiring because of what she achieved in her sport but also because of her bravery and unwillingness to give up the sport she loves. Her strength of character given her very young age at the time of the tragedy makes it even more inspiring.
2. Jim Abbott - New York Yankees Legend
Jim Abbott became a Major League Baseball star despite being born without his right hand. Citing his disability as a motivation to work harder, Abbott finished his baseball career having played for the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees as well as pitching a no-hitter in 1993.
Jim Abbott is especially inspiring in that he was a professional athlete long before it was common to see people with disabilities in mainstream sports. His successful career has been an inspiration—a sporting miracle—to many.
3. Alana Nichols - Multisport Legend
Alana Nichols is a three-time Paralympic gold medal winner who has taken part in three separate sports in the Paralympic games.
When she was 17 years old, Alana suffered a devastating spinal cord injury in a snowboarding accident while wintering in Colorado. The accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. Soon after her injury, she discovered a talent for wheelchair basketball, eventually winning a gold medal at the 2008 Paralympics.
After this triumphant win, Nichols returned to her original passion: skiing. One can only imagine the thrill of returning to the sport she was so passionate about. In 2010, she qualified for the Winter Paralympics and won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze. Nichols also competed in the paracanoe, taking her total to three Paralympic sports.
Today, Alana can often be seen in her wheelchair working out at the gym, at the beach, speaking at events, or skiing with her son Gunnar. Nothing can stop her!
4. Melissa Stockwell - Swimmer and Guest Speaker
Melissa Stockwell is an American Afghanistan war veteran who was caught by a roadside bomb while on tour. As a result of the injuries sustained, her left leg was amputated. As part of her rehabilitation, Melissa began swimming, something with which she had previous experience, having competed competitively as a diver in high school.
In 2008, Melissa competed in the Beijing Paralympic Games only four years after the tragedy that cut her Army career short. Though no longer competing, Melissa continues to inspire, appearing as a guest speaker at veteran events. Her message is simple: Don’t let physical disabilities and fear get in the way of your dreams.
5. Kyle Maynard - An MMA Fighter Who Lives by the Motto: “No Excuses”
Kyle Maynard is a mixed martial arts fighter born with a rare condition that left him with no arms below his elbows and no legs below his knees. While this would be enough to stop most of us, disabilities didn’t impede Kyle, who took an interest in various sports from a young age.
As an adult, Kyle came into the public eye when he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro without prosthetics, the first person to complete the challenge. During his sporting career, Kyle competed in MMA and wrestling, and has broken records as a weightlifter.
Today, Kyle can be seen in his power wheelchair at motivational speaking events, where he inspires people to leave their excuses behind and face challenges fearlessly as well as advocating for disability awareness. Despite the significant obstacles Kyle has faced since birth, he is an athlete who is determined to live autonomously.
6. Natalie du Toit - Paralympic and Olympic Swimming Legend
Natalie du Toit is a South African swimmer and one of the few athletes with disabilities to compete in both the Paralympic and Olympic games. In fact, she became the first female amputee—along with Polish table tennis star Natalia Partyka—ever to compete in the able-bodied Olympic Games when she represented South Africa in Beijing in 2008.
Following a tragic motorcycle accident at 17 years old after which du Toit's left leg was amputated below the knee, she decided to compete as a swimmer despite her new disability. Just one year after the motorcycle accident, du Toit set a world record in the 50m and 100m multi-disability freestyle events as well as being the first disabled athlete to qualify for the 800m able-bodied freestyle event at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
By the end of her career, Natalie de Toit had competed in able-bodied events both in the Commonwealth and Olympic Games in addition to setting multiple records in paralympic events. As Natalie says, “If I'm able to go out there and achieve a dream, then anybody can do it.”
What Do These Athletes All Have in Common?
What sets these inspirational people apart is not that they are athletes with disabilities but rather the focus, determination, and drive they had to continue despite their challenges.
Unlike many other athletes, these sportsmen and women are not driven by fame or fortune but by the determination to overcome their limitations and be defined by their incredible capabilities rather than by their disabilities.
Many of these disabled athletes have continued to share their message in motivational speaking roles after the conclusion of their sporting careers. What could be better suited to people born to inspire?
We encourage you to check out our list of favorite disability motivation quotes next!