RESPECT. Inspires: 26 Marathons and Still Going…. On One Leg

With one leg, he has accomplished it all. If you were to take a look at Freddie De Los Santos, you would think that he was probably just another ordinary guy but you wouldn’t believe the extraordinary things this man has done with just the use of one leg. Freddie has managed to complete 26 cycling marathons and is currently training to make the Paralympic team in Rio.

According to yahoo.com/katiecouric, De Los Santos joined the Army after 9/11 and became a special operations staff sergeant out of Fort Brag in North Carolina. During his service, De Los Santos lost his leg while serving Afghanistan after a rocket-propelled grenade also known as an (RPG) hit his patrol. De Los Santos had to endure months of physical rehabilitation, he also had to cope with psychological trauma as well.

“I had suicidal thoughts. I just wanted to end my life because I was not the same. It used to break my heart every time my kids used to see me,” stated De Los Santos.

As hard of a time as that was for De Los Santos, he managed to join Achillesinternational.org – an organization that brings volunteers and wounded veterans together to participate in mainstream sports/races. Since joining Achilles International, De Los Santos has become a competitive athlete. De Los Santos stated that the program has become part of his rehab and way of life, “It has been the most rewarding experience, being able to compete despite my disability,” stated De Los Santos.

It is estimated that more than 48,000 serviceman and women have been physically injured in wars specifically in Iraq & Afghanistan; many of whom who have returned home due to loosing a limb but just as De Los Santos has, many more with lost limbs have not allowed that disability to stop them. Most have gone on to achieve success even though they may not have the limbs or body part to help them function fully as they should.

Since losing his leg, De Los Santos with the help of Achilles International has gone on to complete 26 marathons, which is not something you don’t hear too often when it comes to a paraplegic. Such an inspiration.

“I will be so excited to go to Rio, not just because it’s Rio but also because I will be able to look back and say, ‘Wow, this is how far I have come since the day I got injured.’ That will be the greatest achievement ever.”

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