Jessica Long – Paralympic Medalist Swimmer

Date: July 20, 2016

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, fitness, INSPIRATIONS BLOG

Jessica Long

Paralympic swimming takes a lot of endurance, experience and strength so when a 12 year old girl brought home 3 gold medals from the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece, the world took notice of her. Jessica Long, now 24, has been capturing gold and breaking world records ever since.

Born in Russia, Jessica was born with fibular hemimelia; she didn’t have fibulas, ankles, heels and most of the other bones in her feet. She was given to an orphanage by her birth parents and at 13 months old, Beth and Steve Long from Maryland, adopted her. At 18 months old, her legs were amputated below the knees so she could be fitted for prosthetic legs and learn how to walk. She was up walking 2 weeks post surgery.

Brandon Holiday – Athlete, Community force for the Disabled, Inspiration

Date: May 10, 2016

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, fitness, INSPIRATIONS BLOG, prosthetics, resources, Support

Brandon Holiday and Tyson

Brandon Holiday grew up athletic – playing various sports, tennis, baseball and training in martial arts. He also grew up with Systemic Lupus, Primary Addison’s and a blood clotting condition (Antiphosolipid Syndrome). After college, he became a police officer but an injury in the line of duty and medical complications from Systemic Lupus forced him to leave the police force. The changing symptoms of his disease made it necessary for him to adjust his life. Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself and causes symptoms like chronic fatigue, pleurisy, high fevers, restlessness, and loss of kidney function.

In 2006, after four months in the hospital battling with blood clots, wound care and hyperbaric chamber treatments, doctors had to amputate his left leg below the knee. Reaching out for help facing his challenges dealing with his injuries and disease led him Challenged Athletes Foundation who awarded him a grant to travel and attend the Extremity Games. It was life-changing for him.

“I realized that there had to be more than just accepting you’re depressed and here is some medicine to help.”

Athletes with Disabilities Network – an inspiring organization

Date: November 11, 2014

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, INSPIRATIONS BLOG

Established in 2009, Athletes with Disabilities Network (ADN) was formed by combining Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame (est 1999) and Extremity Events Network (est 2007). ADN’s mission is to promote a better quality of life by creating opportunities for people with physical disabilities.

“There’s No Replacement for the Competitive Spirit”

The Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame has recognized nearly 100 individuals who share a passion for life and a dedication to inspire others through their words, actions and giving back to the community. The Hall of Fame represents a unique opportunity for athletes with disabilities to be enshrined for their athletic accomplishments, as well as community leaders for their work with persons with disabilities. Honorees are not only a “Who’s Who” in their sports, but are role models for the next generation of young people with disabilities, and their awe-inspiring stories bring much-needed awareness to the general public. In 2014, the top male and female Athlete of the Year awards went to:
Lex Gillette, the current world record holder in the long jump, a three-time Paralympic medalist, the reigning world champion in the long jump, a 15-time national champion and the only totally blind athlete in the world to eclipse the 22-foot barrier in the long jump.