Amputees | Young Wrestling Champion, Trailblazing Firefighter & Adaptive Sports Empowerment

In this episode of the We’re Not Stumped podcast, host Mike Bolland shares inspiring stories of courage and resilience. Hear how a six-year-old wrestling champion overcame limb loss from a lawnmower accident to dominate the mat, the journey of Birmingham Fire & Rescue’s first amputee firefighter who embodies determination, and the transformative work of Ignite Adaptive Sports, empowering individuals of all abilities to enjoy outdoor adventures. Tune in for these uplifting stories of strength and triumph.

Wrestling Champ: https://www.newson6.com/story/67958d028cedfc82c6f80b88/six-year-old-survivor-becomes-state-wrestling-champion

Amputee Firefighter: https://www.wbrc.com/2025/01/24/birmingham-fire-rescues-first-only-amputee-shares-story-determination/

Ignite Adaptive Sports: https://igniteadaptivesports.org

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What does it take to turn a life challenge into a lifelong passion for sports and coaching? On this episode of We're Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland talks with Marc Burkom, a double below-knee amputee born with fibular hemimelia who has built a life around athletics, coaching, and helping others reach their potential. Marc shares how his parents made the difficult decision to amputate his feet when he was just two months old — a choice that allowed him to grow up active in sports like soccer, baseball, and basketball. Today, Marc works in coaching education and advocates for expanding opportunities for adaptive and amputee athletes. In this conversation, Marc and Mike discuss growing up with prosthetics, the role sports played in building confidence, coaching amputee soccer, adaptive sports like amputee basketball, and how prosthetic technology has evolved over the years.

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In this deeply moving episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Scott Martin, a bilateral hand amputee, soccer coach, and author of the upcoming memoir Play From Your Heart. Scott opens up about the life-altering infection in 1993 that led to the loss of both hands and parts of his feet, and the emotional aftermath that followed. He speaks honestly about denial, detachment, and the five-year struggle with depression that tested his identity, confidence, and purpose.

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By |January 30th, 2025|General Disability Related Resources and News|Comments Off on Amputees | Young Wrestling Champion, Trailblazing Firefighter & Adaptive Sports Empowerment

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