I have always had a “watch me” attitude when anyone told me I “couldn’t” do something, and because of that, I’ve always pushed the boundaries of what I was able to do. Before I’d lost my leg at a young age (8-years-old) to a rare bone cancer (Ewing’s Sarcoma), I had already developed a love for running at recess on the elementary school playground.
After years of chemotherapy and the amputation of my left leg through the knee, I was finally cancer free. It didn’t take very long before I was back to running, riding my bike, and playing with my friends in the neighborhood. Throughout my middle school and high school years I competed in wrestling and softball as well as participated in track and field during my off seasons. I never stopped moving. That was until I attended college. Paying for college meant working three jobs instead of sports.
Many years went by before I’d picked up the love of anything athletic. In the Fall of 2014, I joined my first Crossfit gym, drank the Koolaid, and thus the barbells just kept getting heavier. I’m now in my second year of being a competitive CrossFit athlete and I am hoping for many years to come. However, Strongman has came into the picture. This past March, a friend of mine asked me to compete at America’s Strongest Disabled Athlete. I thought he was pulling my leg (pun totally intended), but I signed up anyway. I ended up winning the women’s standing division by one point in the fifth event. My win qualifies me to compete at World’s Strongest Disabled Man in London this September. I'm absolutely excited about traveling for this sport. Just like at Strasburg Strongman, my abilities do not stop with me; I’m constantly out to prove what an amputee can accomplish through hard work and setting goals.
I have many motivators that continually inspire me push harder at being an athlete. I realized after the birth of my youngest daughter that getting fit again was a must. How was I supposed to take care of two babies (both under four years old) if I couldn’t keep up with them. I also volunteer for organizations like Amputee Blade Runners (ABR) and Camp Nubability. This past March I ran with team Run Free, an all amputee running team through ABR, in the Tennessee Ragnar Relay (200 miles). I also coach grappling at Camp Nubability in DuQuoin, IL, which is a camp for limb different kids and their families. This leads me to my biggest motivator, helping other amputees consider active life styles, develop positive body images, and become helping hands in the amputee community. Fitness is wellness on many levels and I strive to get the able-bodied community to ditch their assumptions about what individuals with disabilities can accomplish and extend an invitation to anyone to get involved in anything athletic.
Thank you, Sabrina, for being an inspiration to us all! If you would like to get more information or get involved, check out the website www.NubAbility.org.