Maria Velat is a senior at the University of Michigan studying Movement Science, an elite adaptive track and field and wheelchair tennis athlete, and the CEO and co-founder of I Am An Athlete Too (IAAAT). After being paralyzed by transverse myelitis in high school, Maria refused to let her disability define her. She channeled her experience into advocacy, co-founding IAAAT to create permanent adaptive sports categories in Michigan high school track and field, ensuring that students with disabilities could compete fairly, score points, and gain recognition.

A decorated athlete, Maria has won the U20 T34 wheelchair-track title at the Junior Nationals and the Michigan high school wheelchair track championship, as well as regional sit-ski and air rifle titles. At the University of Michigan, she competes in both adaptive track and wheelchair tennis through the Adaptive Student Athlete Program (ASAP). Maria also made history competing in the inaugural wheelchair track collegiate championships at the Drake Relays and advanced to the 2024 Paralympic Trials. Her athletic achievements demonstrate not only her personal determination but also her commitment to raising the profile of adaptive sports.

Beyond her athletic and advocacy work, Maria contributes academically and professionally in the field of disability health. She has interned with the MDisability program at U‑M, gaining hands-on experience in research that bridges healthcare, adaptive sports, and community inclusion. Through school clinics, workshops, and presentations, she has inspired dozens of students with disabilities to engage in sports, empowering a new generation of athletes and helping to build a more inclusive sporting community.