Sponsor an Athlete
Nico Calabria
I was born with one leg and use forearm crutches for mobility. From a young age, I fell in love with sports and quickly learned that if I wanted to compete at the highest level, I would have to fight for it. For years, I resisted being associated with disability—it didn’t align with my image of an athlete. That changed when I discovered amputee soccer. Since 2011, I’ve served as captain of the U.S. Amputee Soccer Team at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups.
The ongoing costs of maintaining elite-level fitness (gym memberships, recovery, and local league play) are significant. Your support will directly support those essential training needs and help make my pursuit of excellence sustainable.
Zachary Josie
I am a long-distance triathlete with a rare type of disproportionate dwarfism called Ellis Van Creveld Syndrome. I have a long torso with short limbs. Triathlon has encouraged me to push myself past what I thought were my limits and become more confident in myself physically and mentally. In 2023, I went sub 5 in a 70.3 distance triathlon becoming the first with my condition to do so and now I hope to extend that goal to the full distance by going sub 10 hours.
Alec Arambula
My name is Alec Arambula, and living with cerebral palsy has shaped every part of my journey—but it has never defined my limits. Very early on, sports became my outlet. What started as a way to stay active quickly turned into my greatest source of strength, confidence, and purpose. Running taught me discipline. Training taught me resilience. And pushing my body farther than anyone thought possible taught me that the human spirit is stronger than any diagnosis.
This year, I proved that to myself—and the world—by setting the Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon run by an athlete with cerebral palsy. Crossing that finish line wasn’t just a personal victory. It was a statement for every person with a disability who has been told what they can’t do. It was a reminder that barriers are meant to be challenged, and expectations are meant to be rewritten.
Wendy Gideon
I was born with three limb differences, including missing my right leg. Physical activity has become not just a way to move my body, but a way to reclaim it and to prove to myself that I can define my own boundaries. In the summer of 2025, I hiked more than 150 miles through Nepal, completing the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit Treks, and became the first person with one leg to complete each unassisted on forearm crutches. These expeditions earned me two world records and, more importantly, transformed how I view resilience, purpose, and freedom.
My next goal is to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amputee Soccer Team with the American Amputee Soccer Association (AASA). I will be attending training camps in 2026 to develop the skills I need to qualify for the team and compete in future international competitions including the next Women's World Cup.
Tracy Lamarche
Throughout most of my adult life I was a competitive long-distance runner, competing in races anywhere from 3 miles to 300 miles. While coaching a couch-to-5k team, I sustained a minor knee injury.. Ultimately after 2 years and 10 surgeries, the chances of me ever returning to running, or even walking unassisted, were slim. I was given the option to amputate above the knee, and I felt that was my best path forward as I felt confident in my ability to find a way to adapt and return to competitive sports as an amputee.
Returning to sport as an adaptive cyclist has been rewarding, though certainly not easy. It required literally learning how to ride a bike all over again, this time with only one leg. My tenacity and determination are stronger than any barrier, and I've successfully competed at the Paralympic Cycling Time Trials, USA Cycling Road Nationals, and USA Cycling Track Nationals. This year I've amassed 4 gold medals and national titles, and set one national record (Women's C2 Track Kilo).
Hayden Compton
I was born with Recessive Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia. With the help of mentors, I have met other athletes with disabilities, discovered a passion for sports, and began competing in track. Wheelchair racing has helped me reach new levels of independence and performance.
My short term goals include winning another state championship in the 100m dash as well as competing at the Move United Nationals. In the future I hope to compete at the Paralympics with friends I have made across the country who have become my second family. Adaptive sports have given me a sense of belonging and purpose and I am excited to see where my hard work and dedication can take me.
Kade Lubner
I was born with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, but from the very beginning, I’ve loved sports. Growing up, I tried soccer, basketball, tennis, swim, running, and triathlon. As I got older, I fell in love with endurance sports and now run cross country, swim, compete in distance track, and race triathlon. I compete in both the adaptive sports world and the able-bodied sports world. I train every day so I can be competitive in an able-bodied world with no compromise. I want to be treated like everyone else.
As I look ahead to 2026 and 2027, my athletic goals are clear: I want to be part of an able-bodied NCAA cross country and track team. I am a senior in high school now, and I’m beginning the process of finding a team. With the right opportunities and support, I know I can continue breaking barriers for myself and for the next generation of adaptive athletes.
Skyler Fisher
Living with CMT has shaped who I am in ways both challenging and empowering. While I have faced limitations, I have also discovered resilience, creativity, and determination, qualities that guide every part of my life. My disability has taught me to approach obstacles as opportunities, a mindset that has been especially meaningful in sports. From my first experiences with Para Swimming and Track, I realized that athletics could expand my sense of what was possible.
Looking ahead, my goals are ambitious and deeply meaningful: to make the US Paratriathlon National Team, to qualify for the LA28 Paralympic Games, and to inspire others with disabilities to pursue their passions. I am determined to move up to the top 6 in the world rankings, and I aim to elevate my overall performance and consistency to secure a place among the world’s elite in my sport.
Amaris Vazquez-Collazo
I was born in Puerto Rico with a foot deformity that led to an amputation when I was one. A few months later, I received my first prosthetic leg. When I was eight, I joined an organization called DASA. I began with swimming and, after much convincing, decided to try track. Shortly after, I joined their competition team and started competing across the United States. I began breaking national records for my age group, and for the first time, I realized I could reach the big stage if I truly wanted to.
In 2024, I competed in my first Paralympic Games in Paris for the long jump and have now attended two World Championships. Sports have profoundly shaped my life. They gave me a sense of belonging and surrounded me with people who share the same determination and drive. Physical activity has made me strong, not just physically but mentally. Through sport, I’ve gained discipline, accountability, resilience, and a deep belief in what I can achieve. Today, I proudly share my story, including the imperfect and difficult parts, at many DASA events and other speaking opportunities. I consider myself an advocate not only for people with disabilities but also for those facing mental health challenges.