Redefining Disability

After graduating from high school, David Sarbonnet followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Navy Seal. But his military career was cut short after a parachuting accident left him paralyzed. Recently, he discovered paddlesports through the San Diego Canoe and Kayak Team and is now trying to make the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

At age two, RJ De Rama survived cancer but as a result lost some of his vision. By age 30, he was legally blind in both eyes. In 2006, he was part of an all-blind team that completed an 18 mile outrigger canoe race in Kona, Hawaii. Because of that experience, he became a founding member of the Makapo Aquatics Project, a Move United member organization based in southern California. Later this month, RJ will also be presenting at the Move United Education Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Emily Hoskins has been involved with wheelchair basketball for much of her life. She was a member of the St. Louis Rolling Rams through high school before attending the University of Illinois, where she was a part of a team won four consecutive national championships. She won a gold medal at the 2004 & 2008 Paralympic Games. She now coaches a program in Nashville, TN.

At age 23, Jamal Hill discovered he had a condition known as CMT disease, a neurological condition that affects the muscles in his arms and legs. His love of swimming, which he developed at a young age, continues to this day. He earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo and is aiming for something bigger in Paris. Jamal founded the Swim Up Foundation in an effort to teach one million students how to swim by 2028.

Brad Deminck is a 4th degree black belt in taekwondo and is the master instructor and head coach at Lakeshore Taekwondo Academy in Michigan. He also coaches the para taekwondo team.

In 2008, Mallory Weggemann underwent a medical procedure that left her paralyzed from the waist down. But three months after the injury, she returned to the sport of swimming that she loved. The 3x Paralympian and 5x Paralympic medalist, who is also aiming to represent Team USA in Paris this summer is an author, business owner, commentator, producer, and mother.

Zion Redington started playing wheelchair basketball as a youth in Tennessee and played a number of adaptive sports as well, competing at the Endeavor Games and other competitions. He is now the youngest member of the national wheelchair rugby team with the hope of making Team USA for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

Zack Shattuck discovered swimming in 2015, but didn’t start swimming competitively until college, where he swam for four years at Frostburg State University. The Mount Airy, Maryland native went on to compete at the 2020 Paralympics and recently earned a silver and bronze at the Parapan American Games in Chile. In addition to competing personally, he is also coaching.

As an infant in India, Minda Dentler contracted polio, resulting in the paralysis of her legs. As a young adult, she discovered the sport of handcycling. She would become the first female wheelchair athlete to complete the Ironman World Championship and would be nominated for an ESPN ESPY Award. She is also known for her popular TED Talk and is the author of the new children’s book, “The Girl Who Figured it Out.”

Victoria Isaacson is a wheelchair fencer with a goal of competing at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. In addition to being an elite athlete herself, she also coaches fencing and has recently completed her doctorate degree and is an occupational therapist.