Kicking Barriers: Alexia Michitti on Soccer, Innovation & Empowering Kids with Limb Differences

Host Mike Bolland sits down with Alexia Michitti—a public speaker, athlete, and entrepreneur born without a right hand. Together, they reflect on their shared experiences of limb difference and Alexia’s powerful journey of resilience, determination, and innovation.

Alexia shares how she’s breaking barriers in sports and beyond—from representing the U.S. in the first Women’s Amputee Soccer World Cup, to filing a patent for adaptive clothing through her brand Em13race (https://em13race.com/), to finding her voice as a motivational speaker. She opens up about life without a prosthetic, her role models, and her passion for inspiring children with limb differences to embrace their uniqueness.

💡 What you’ll hear in this episode:

  • Alexia’s journey of resilience and self-identity
  • Competing on the world stage at the Women’s Amputee Soccer World Cup
  • Why she chooses life without a prosthetic
  • The launch of her adaptive clothing brand, Embrace 13
  • The importance of empowering kids and families with limb differences
  • What’s next for Alexia in speaking and brand growth

✨ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to We’re Not Stumped for more stories of resilience, advocacy, and community!

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By |September 30th, 2025|Congenital Amputee Stories, Upper Limb Amputees|Comments Off on Kicking Barriers: Alexia Michitti on Soccer, Innovation & Empowering Kids with Limb Differences

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