- Photo:
- Chris Eason
- Wikimedia Commons
18 Famous Athletes Who Are Disabled
- Photo:
Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius set world records in the Paralympics. Both of his legs were amputated below the knee due to fibular hemimelia.- Age: 38
- Nationality: South Africa
- Birthplace: Sandton, South Africa
- Photo:
Rocky Bleier was injured when a grenade sent shrapnel into his lower right leg during the Vietnam War. Although he was told that he would never play football again, he went on to become a Super Bowl champion four times over with the Pittsburgh Steelers.- Age: 79
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Appleton, Grand Chute, Wisconsin
- Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Photo:
- Metaweb
- CC-BY
MLB pitcher Jim Abbott was born without a right hand. He won a gold medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics and pitched a total of 888 strike outs in his MLB career.- Age: 57
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Flint, Michigan
- Teams: New York Yankees, New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox, Calgary Cannons
- Photo:
- Photo:
- Metaweb
- CC-BY
Natalie du Toit had her left leg amputated at the knee after she was hit by a car in 2001. In 2008, she qualified for the Summer Olympics, becoming the third amputee to ever accomplish the difficult task.- Age: 41
- Nationality: South Africa
- Birthplace: Cape Town, South Africa
- Photo:
- Photo:
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC-BY
NFL quarterback David Garrard suffers from Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that has no cure.- Age: 47
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: East Orange, New Jersey
- Teams: New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, East Carolina Pirates football
- Photo:
- Photo:
- Metaweb
- CC-BY
Runner Glenn Cunningham's legs were badly burned in an accident when he was a child to the point that doctors recommended amputation. He suffered through intense physical therapy and went on to compete in the 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics.- Age: Dec. at 78 (1909-1988)
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Atlanta, Kansas
- Photo:
- Photo:
- Metaweb
- CC-BY
Samari Rolle announced that he has epilepsy in 2007.- Age: 48
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Miami, Florida
- Photo:
Kyle Maynard
- Photo:
ESPY Award-winning mixed martial arts athlete Kyle Maynard became the first quadruple amputee to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro without the aid of prosthetics in 2012.- Age: 38
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
- Photo:
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC-BY
NFL kicker Tom Dempsey was born without toes on his right foot and no fingers on his right hand. In 2013, it was reported that Dempsey is suffering from dementia.- Age: 84
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers
- Photo:
- Photo:
- flickr
- CC0
Jessica Long's legs were amputated when she was a baby due to fibular hemimelia. She currently holds world records in 13 Paralympic events.- Age: 33
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Bratsk, Russia
- Photo:
Alana Nichols
- Photo:
- Metaweb
- CC-BY
In 2000, Alana Nichols became paralyzed from the waist down after a snowboarding accident. She has since went on to play basketball in the Paralympics and to win two gold metals for alpine skiing in the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games.- Age: 41
- Nationality: United States of America
- Photo:
Anthony Robles
- Photo:
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC-BY
Anthony Robles was born with only one leg. He went on to win the 2010-11 NCAA individual wrestling championship in the 125-pound weight class.- Age: 36
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Arizona, USA
- Photo:
Tatyana McFadden
- Photo:
Tatyana McFadden is paralyzed from the waist down due to spina bifida. She has won medals at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics in track and field and cross-country skiing.- Age: 35
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Chelsea McClammer
- Photo:
Chelsea McClammer is a member of Team U.S.A.'s paralympic track team.- Nationality: United States of America
Oz Sanchez
- Photo:
Oz Sanchez became injured in a motorcycle accident in 2001. He was went on to win medals at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games.- Age: 49
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
- Photo:
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC-BY
Melissa Stockwell lost her left leg in the Iraq War. She was named USAT Paratriathlete of the Year in 2010 and 2011.- Age: 44
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Grand Haven, Michigan
- Photo:
Baxter Humby
- Photo:
Kickboxer Baxter Humby's right hand was amputated shortly after his birth. He is a IMTC World Super Welterweight Champion and works as a stunt double in Hollywood films.- Age: 51
- Nationality: Canada
- Birthplace: Winnipeg, Canada
- Photo:
- Metaweb
- CC-BY
Bethany Hamilton's left arm was bitten off by a shark in a surfing accident in 2003. She went on to place 1st at the NSSA National Competition in 2005.- Age: 35
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Kauai, Hawaii, USA
- Photo:
