Amy Purdy lost her legs below the knees when she was 19 years old. Throughout her recovery, she vowed to ride again. At that time, two decades ago, adaptive snowboarding was essentially non-existent. If she wanted to ride again, she would have to figure it out. And that she did. Amy and her husband founded Adaptive Action Sports and would make history by winning the inaugural bronze medal in para snowboarding in 2014. She would add two more medals at the 2018 Paralympics. She would also compete on the TV show Dancing With the Stars, showing the world the possibilities and what adaptive athletes are capable of. And this past weekend, she was inducted into the Adaptive Sports Hall of Fame in the winter sports recording.

Keith Gabel was introduced to snowboarding in 2000 and he quickly developed a love for the sport. In June 2005, Gabel was involved in an industrial accident that crushed his left foot. After multiple medical procedures, he made the decision to amputate his leg just below the knee. Gabel returned to his snowboard three months later…But it wasn’t until the 2010-11 season, his sixth season riding with an amputation, that he found out about competitive para snowboarding and began training with the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah. He is now a 3X Paralympian and 2X Paralympic medalist. As a Team Hartford athlete, he has also helped gift new adaptive sports equipment to other athletes with disabilities.

Cheryl Angelelli sustained a spinal cord injury from a diving accident in 1983. 15 years later, she took up swimming again and would become a 3x Paralympian and 4X Paralympic medalist in the sport. After retiring from swimming, Cheryl turned to wheelchair ballroom dancing. In addition to her work with Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, a Move United member organization, she travels the country to promote dance to other individuals with disabilities.

Rebecca Johnston was just beginning her freshman year at Whitman College, where she was planning to play volleyball at the Division III school. But bone cancer would impact that plan. After an attempt to salvage her limb she would decide to have her leg amputated above the knee. She is now focusing her attention on para snowboarding and hopes to represent Team USA at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games.

Marine Staff Sergeant John Edward Heath was struck by a vehicle on New Year's Day in 2016. After 12 limb salvage surgeries he decided to amputate his left leg. Good luck keeping up with him, as he is an elite athlete in weightlifting, crossfit, track and field, and too many other things to even mention here. He has earned a Master's Degree in Nonprofit Management, is training for the 2024 Paralympic Games, and a Move United Warfighters Ambassador.

Jonathon Stone was a three sport athlete in high school. After being severely injured in the Marine Corps, he thought his days as an athlete were over. Then he discovered adaptive sports through Team River Runner, a Move United member organization. Now Jon is enjoying the sport he loves as a member of the Cleveland Browns Wheelchair Football Team.

Steph “The Hammer” Roach has been motivating herself and others her entire life. Born with cerebral palsy, she started into sports when she was three years old. She now operates Staying Driven Fitness, a live, interactive, online fitness program for the adaptive population. She has recently written a book, “Driven,” about her journey.

By day, Jason Sfire is president of The Fidelity Group, a family owned commercial real estate development company in Illinois. When he is not running a business, he is playing wheelchair tennis with the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association, or GLASA, which is a Move United member organization based in the Chicago Area. He also happens to serve as the organization’s board president and coaches the Chicago Bears Wheelchair Football team.

A retired military veteran, Ty Campbell used golf as a form of physical therapy after suffering an injury while deployed with the United States Coast Guard. Ty uses his passion for golf to create a fun learning environment while concentrating on the fundamentals to increase confidence. As a Move United Warfighters Ambassador and PGA professional, Ty has dedicated himself to showing that no matter your skill level or abilities, everyone can enjoy a day out on the course.

Jacob Tyree serves as a training coordinator for Move United, overseeing the management of VA Adaptive Sports Training Grant funded programs. He brings with him a vast amount of experience in the adaptive sport space as an athlete, coach, and sport professional. Jacob played collegiate wheelchair basketball at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has international coaching experience in Japan as well as Peru, and founded the Roanoke Stars Wheelchair Basketball program in Virginia.