Some people are born with a disability while others pick it after birth. A disease like polio can make one disabled for a lifetime. However, some disabled people have still make a mark in various fields of life including sports. Here are 7 famous athletes who are disabled.
Oscar Pistorius
“I’d like to show people that if you put the hard work in and you believe in yourself, then you can do whatever you want to.”
Oscar is a famous South African athlete. His two legs were amputated below his knees due to fibular hemimelia. After his tremendous success in the Paralympic, he entered into the non-disabled competition in 2011 after several objections from the IAAF. That year, he competed in the World Championships in Athletics and became the first amputee athlete to win a medal in non-disabled world track competition. In 2012, he became the first double amputee to participate in that year’s Summer Olympic.
Jim Abbott
“Never allow the circumstances of your life to become an excuse. People will allow you to do it. But I believe we have a personal obligation to make the most of the abilities we have.”
Jim Abbott is a very famous former MLB pitcher. Unlike Pistorius, Jim Abbott was born with his disability. Born without a right hand, he didn’t stop him from reaching greatness in the MLB. In 1988, he won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics. Throughout his MLB career, he pitches 888 strikes.
Rocky Bleier
Rocky Bleier had his disabilities during the Vietnam War. He was injured by a grenade shrapnel, which went into his left leg. But that never deterred him from pursuing his football career. He played for Pittsburgh Steelers where he became a four-time Super Bowl champion.
Baxter Humbly
Baxter Humbly is a Canadian kickboxer and martial artist. During his birth, an umbilical cord entangled his right hand causing it to be amputated below his elbow. Nonetheless, that didn’t stop him from achieving his dream. In 1992 and 1994, he competed for the Canadian Paralympic National Track Team. He is an IMTC World Super Welterweight Champion and a former WBC Super Welterweight National Champion.
Oz Sanchez
Oz Sanchez is an American Paralympic athlete. He is a former of the Marine Corps but suffered a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident in 2001. This made him paralyzed and decided to become a Paralympic athlete. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he represented the United States in para-cycling, winning a gold medal. He also won a bronze in the road race. He has since then won several other medals.
David Gerrard
David Gerrard is an American National Football League quarterback. He was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, which has no cure. Despite that, he played his heart out for his teams. He has played for teams like New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, East Carolina, and Pirates football.
Kyle Maynard
“I’ve always believed that anyone can achieve their dreams, regardless. I’ve always had this attitude about no excuses. A belief that I can go on and do what I need to do. To go on, to succeed, regardless.”
Kyle Maynard is an American mixed martial arts athlete. With his incredible talent despite being disabled, he became the quadruple amputee to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro without using a prosthetic. He made this record in 2012.
To Know About : 7 Female Incredible Athletes With Disabilities
