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Aimee Mullins

by Corena from Riley

Aimee at the Annual Woman Sports Foundation (Zimbo.com ())
Aimee at the Annual Woman Sports Foundation (Zimbo.com ())

"Giving up is conceding that things will never get better, and that is just not true. Ups and downs are a constant in life, and I've been belted into that roller coaster a thousand times." That famous quote was written by Aimee Mullins. Aimee Mullins is a 39 year old woman that was born with a rare medical condition called fibular hemimelia. Fibular hemimelia is missing fibula bones which resulted in having below the knee amputations to both of her legs when she was a year old. Aimee Mullins is a hero because she showed that everyone with a disability could lead a normal life and accomplish every dream you set your mind too.

Aimee Mullins was born July 20, 1976 in Allentown Pennsylvania. The medical condition that caused Aimee to lose both of her legs didn't bring her down. She was meant to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life, but she proved everyone wrong. When she was 2 years-old Aimee learned how to walk, run, swim, and play sports with prosthetic legs. She graduated from Parkland High School, and also attended Georgetown University where she took up sports and acting at an early stage. While at Georgetown Aimee completed a foreign affairs internship working at the pentagon. Growing up she played softball which she once held the youth league record for stolen bases, raced in downhill skiing and competed in NCAA division 1 track and field events as the first amputee in American history.

Doing Long Jump (postitivmed.com ())
Doing Long Jump (postitivmed.com ())

Mullins was elected to represent all American female athletes from 2007 to 2009. Sports illustrated magazine names her one of the "coolest girls in sports." In 1996 she competed in the Paralympics and by the year of 1998 she set world records in the 100 m, 200 m and long jump. In 2012 Hillary Clinton appointed Aimee to the State Department's Council to Empower Women and Girls Through Sports. In 1998 she launched her career as a model by starting on the runway, she model for a British Fashion Designer in London on a pair of hand carved wooden legs. She is able to change her height between 5'8 and 6'1 by changing her legs. People Magazine named her one of the fifty most beautiful people in the world. In 2002 she starred in an art film called Cremaster 3 as 6 different characters. Other movies include World Trade Center, Quid Pro quo and Marvelous to name a few. Aimee reported to having 12 pairs of prosthetic legs with some in museums.

"I hate the word handicapped" and "disabled". They imply that you are less than a whole. I don't see myself that way at all" As Aimee was growing up her life was one triumph after another. Aimee was one of the human spirit to overcome life obstacles that were thrown at her in life. When she was learning how to walk she didn't stop going once she learned her interest in sport had grown rapidly. She was the first adaptive athletic to compete against an able-body NCAA. Mullins now after all those years of competing in sports she has focused on her acting career. She had overcome many things in life such as; having to learn how to walk with prosthetic legs, and having to adapt to what her lifestyle was going to be like.

In conclusion even with prosthetic legs Aimee learned to walk, run, swim, and play sports. She was the first amputee to play sports in NCAA history. Not only did she play sports she also became famous in acting and modeling in fashion shows. Aimee Mullins is a hero because she showed that everyone with a disability could lead a normal life and accomplish every dream you set your mind too. With that being said "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

Page created on 11/8/2015 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 9/6/2018 12:19:14 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.