Garrett is a below-knee amputee on his left side with extreme damage to his right leg. If he breaks his right leg again, he may never walk again. Garrett is 20 years old and is training for the 2022 Paralympics in Beijing, China.

 

In high school, Garrett began rebelling and challenging his father. Garrett thought he could deal with anything on his own. Garrett played football and wrestled. He loved individual sports more than team sports; he hated being in a position where he could fail his team.Jim Nicklas and Garrett’s father both feared Garrett was going wayward. His father warned him many times that God would get his attention if he didn’t “tighten up.” Jim and Garrett discuss the high-speed vehicle wreck of June 2, 2016, that changed Garrett’s life forever and for the better. Garrett has Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” engraved on his prosthetic. It was also on his wrestling shirt. Before the wreck, he wasn’t as sure of it but the way he survived the wreck convinced him of its truth.

 

In the hospital, despite smiling for his family, Garrett was depressed about his injuries. He almost acted on suicidal thoughts and he spent time in a mental hospital. He was angry at God. He is very grateful now to have recovered from those feelings.In his Senior year, Garrett tried to play football but his right leg was too badly injured, so he moved on to wrestling again, getting to the second round in State wrestling for the first time.The real change came for Garrett with snowboarding. Garrett had gone snowboarding as a child. His first experience using a prosthesis on a snowboard was terrifying and difficult but when he stepped on the snow he felt free again. His dad helped him up when he fell. Garrett didn’t imagine then that he would compete. His doctor put him in touch with Amy Purdy, a Paralympic snowboarder, and co-founder of Adaptive Action Sports, a 501(c) charity. Garrett was invited to Copper Mountain, CO. He hoped to learn from others there who had lost limbs and gone on to snowboard. One of the coaches told him they wanted to be in contact with him.Before Garrett graduated, he got an invitation from Adaptive Action to go back to Copper Mountain to compete for their Sports club. Garrett flew out by himself and stayed at the home of a man who later became his coach. After Garrett’s first trip down the hill, the coach told him they needed to fix just about everything he was doing! By the end of the day, the coach said he had progressed “an insane amount.” The coach told him they would be in touch soon.After graduation, they invited Garrett back. His family saw that having an apartment, a job, and training every day helped Garrett mature and come out of his depression. Garrett realized God had opened many doors for him to get into snowboarding. Garrett sees he has a big stage on which to bear witness to God and His goodness.After a year on the club team, Garrett was invited to join the U.S. Development Team because of his points earned and the progress he had made. Garrett was one of the youngest athletes to qualify for the Team. He loved the Paralympic Center and the athletes. Jim observed a change in Garrett when he made the U.S. Team.On the Development Team, Garrett competed in Finland, Norway, The Netherlands, and at an able-bodied event in Canada. Garrett was the first para-athlete to qualify for a bracket in an able-bodied heat. After that, Garrett moved up to the A-Team. The team is on hold due to COVID-19. Garrett is on the A-Team for the 2022 Beijing Paralympics. Garrett is currently third out of the five athletes on the A-Team and will compete against them and other athletes in the development program to be one of the three to go to Beijing. Now Garrett is in Georgia, working out and wakeboarding. Last summer, Garrett competed in able-bodied wakeboarding.

Garrett and his father drew closer to God through scripture reading and the Church and from seeing how Garrett has grown since his injuries. Garrett is more humble. Jim encourages Garrett to be an ambassador of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20 “We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (NIV) The weightiness of representing Christ well changes us.To continue moving forward in a sense of humility and implementing counsel is a mark of a man.Garrett absolutely would not change anything. His life is a lot better. His faith is stronger. Things happen for a reason. Focus on what you can do with what has happened.

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Marks of a Man on FacebookJim Nicklas on InstagramFollow Garrett:@GarrettGeros22 on InstagramAdaptive Action SportsTeamUSA.org