Blake Leeper, a U.S. Paralympic runner, was born with no legs, but he hasn’t let that stop him from chasing his dreams.
Leeper was born with a congenital birth defect and had to have both of his legs amputated below the knee. His doctors didn’t think he would ever be able to walk, but he was able to prove them wrong.
Leeper says he has been wearing prosthetic legs since he was 9 months old. He started running a few years ago and has been working to improve his skills since then. His ultimate goal is to someday be the first disabled American to qualify for the Olympic Games.
Despite his disability, Leeper’s parents felt it was important for him to be involved in sports. He played baseball and basketball when he was a child. When he was 19, Leeper said his dad told him that even though people would feel sorry for him and try to take it easy on him, he needed to finish everything just like everyone else. It was that advice that lead him to achieve great athletic success.
At 25 years old, Leeper received two silver and one bronze medal at the Paralympic Games in London, played in the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game, and even walked the runway at several fashion events.
Even when things are hard, Leeper didn’t let his disability stop him from doing what he loved, and he hopes he can inspire others to do the same.