Amy Purdy is an American snowboarder, motivational speaker, and Paralympic medalist who captured global attention by winning a bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi while competing with prosthetic legs. Having contracted bacterial meningitis at age 19, which led to the amputation of both legs below the knee and the loss of her spleen and kidneys, she redefined what is physically possible for adaptive athletes. Beyond her athletic achievements, Purdy co-founded Adaptive Action Sports, competed on Dancing with the Stars, and established herself as a prominent voice in adaptive sports advocacy.
Early Life, Illness, and the Turning Point
Born on November 7, 1979, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Amy Purdy grew up with a deep passion for snowboarding, outdoor sports, and an active lifestyle. In 1999, at the age of 19, her life took a dramatic turn when she contracted a severe form of bacterial meningitis known as Neisseria meningitidis. The infection progressed with alarming speed, shutting down her circulatory system and resulting in septic shock.
Medical professionals gave her a less than two percent chance of survival. To save her life, doctors placed her in a medically induced coma and ultimately performed amputations on both legs below the knee. Furthermore, she lost her spleen and the function of both kidneys, requiring a successful kidney transplant years later, with her father serving as the donor.
The transition from an active teenager to a double-below-knee amputee presented immense physical and psychological challenges. Early prosthetic limbs were heavy, unrefined, and poorly suited for athletic performance, making simple tasks like standing upright painful and exhausting. However, rather than accepting a sedentary lifestyle, Purdy committed herself to returning to the snow. She designed and built her own functional snowboards and customized prosthetic feet, laying the groundwork for her eventual return to competitive snowboarding and inspiring a new era of adaptive sports engineering.
Pioneering Adaptive Snowboarding and Paralympic Success
Purdy’s journey on the snow extended far beyond personal rehabilitation; she became a driving force behind the formal inclusion of adaptive snowboarding in major international competitions. In the early 2000s, competitive snowboarding for athletes with physical impairments lacked formal global infrastructure. Purdy worked alongside fellow athletes, coaches, and sports administrators to lobby the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to integrate snowboarding into the Paralympic program.
Her efforts bore fruit when adaptive snowboarding made its official Paralympic debut at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Competing in the women’s SB-LL2 classification for lower-limb impairments, Purdy delivered a stellar performance under intense international scrutiny, securing the bronze medal for the United States.
| Competition Year | Event | Location | Discipline / Classification | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Winter Paralympics | Sochi, Russia | Snowboard Cross (SB-LL2) | Bronze Medal |
| 2017 | World Para Snowboard Championships | Big White, Canada | Snowboard Cross / Banked Slalom | Medals / Top Finishes |
| 2018 | Winter Paralympics | Pyeongchang, South Korea | Snowboard Cross (SB-LL2) | Competed / Top Contender |
Her competitive career extended through the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where she continued to compete at an elite level despite managing chronic pain and subsequent health hurdles. Across her career, she helped elevate the profile of winter adaptive sports, proving that specialized prosthetics and rigorous training could bridge the gap between perceived physical limitations and high-performance athletics.
Co-Founding Adaptive Action Sports
Recognizing the lack of resources and community support for individuals with physical disabilities who wished to pursue action sports, Amy Purdy and her partner, Daniel Gale, co-founded Adaptive Action Sports (AAS) in 2005. Based in Colorado, this non-profit organization is dedicated to introducing individuals with permanent physical disabilities and wounded veterans to action sports such as snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, and mountain biking.
Adaptive Action Sports operates with several core objectives:
- Community Building: Creating a supportive peer network for individuals navigating life-altering injuries or congenital conditions.
- Access and Equipment: Providing access to specialized adaptive sports equipment, which is often prohibitively expensive for individual athletes.
- Athletic Development: Training camps and coaching pipelines designed to develop grassroots participants into elite-level competitors, many of whom have advanced to national teams and the Paralympic Games.
Through AAS, Purdy played a foundational role in bringing adaptive skateboarding into mainstream action sports events, including the X Games, and helped establish structured pathways for youth and veterans seeking active rehabilitation through sport.
Cultural Impact, Media, and Public Speaking
Beyond her athletic and non-profit endeavors, Amy Purdy expanded her cultural footprint through television, authorship, and high-profile public speaking engagements. In 2014, immediately following her success at the Sochi Paralympics, she competed on the 18th season of the popular television show Dancing with the Stars alongside professional dancer Derek Hough. Pushing the boundaries of what prosthetic legs could achieve on a dance floor, Purdy finished the competition as the runner-up, captivating millions of viewers and shifting public perceptions regarding disability and grace.
In 2014, she released her memoir, On My Own Two Feet, detailing her battle with bacterial meningitis, the loss of her legs, her kidney transplant, and her ascent to Paralympic success. The book served as a practical and emotional guide for individuals facing severe life crises.
As a corporate and motivational speaker, Purdy has addressed global audiences, including appearances at TED conferences, Fortune 500 corporate events, and international leadership forums. Her signature speeches, including her widely viewed TED Talk "Living Beyond Limits," focus on transforming obstacles into opportunities, embracing vulnerability, and utilizing adversity as a catalyst for innovation and personal growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Amy Purdy lose her legs?
Amy Purdy lost both legs below the knee at age 19 after contracting a severe form of bacterial meningitis. The illness led to septic shock and multi-organ failure, requiring life-saving amputations to stop the spread of infection.
What medal did Amy Purdy win at the Paralympics?
Purdy won a bronze medal in snowboard cross (classification SB-LL2) at the 2014 Winter Paralympics held in Sochi, Russia.
What is Adaptive Action Sports?
Adaptive Action Sports (AAS) is a non-profit organization co-founded by Amy Purdy and Daniel Gale in 2005. It provides individuals with physical disabilities and wounded veterans access to action sports like snowboarding, skateboarding, and surfing.
Did Amy Purdy compete on Dancing with the Stars?
Yes, Purdy competed on season 18 of Dancing with the Stars in 2014, paired with professional dancer Derek Hough. She utilized specialized dance prosthetics and finished the season as the runner-up.
How did Amy Purdy return to snowboarding after her amputation?
Purdy designed and customized her own prosthetic feet and modified snowboards to accommodate her amputations. Through trial and error, she developed functional configurations that allowed her to regain balance and control on the snow.
Next Actions and Further Exploration
To deepen your understanding of adaptive athletics and the legacy of Amy Purdy, explore official resources provided by the U.S. Paralympics and the International Paralympic Committee. For those interested in supporting community initiatives, research the ongoing programs offered by Adaptive Action Sports to understand how specialized equipment and coaching camps empower athletes with physical impairments worldwide.
