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Aimee Mullins

by Sierra from Riley

Aimee Mullins (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-200636 ())
Aimee Mullins (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-200636 ())

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you were told that you wouldn't be able to accomplish your dreams? Well Aimee Mullins is one who knows all about it. Aimee wasn't born like a normal child. Her race started and ended at day one it seemed like. The struggle she's had to go through is unimaginable to us. When you were one, your parents were thinking about what will be the first word? Is she ever going to sleep? When do you think she'll start walking? Well that was not the case for young Aimee. That did not stop her. Aimee became an inspiration because of her determination, and courage to achieve her goals, no matter what the odds were.

Let me tell you why Aimee is so different. Aimee was born without fibular bones. Upon this discovery she was told by doctors that she would never walk and had to spend the rest of her life using a wheelchair. Aimee got both legs amputated below the knees on her 1st birthday. Aimee, learned how to walk with prosthetic legs (Ted). Growing up was always a challenge for Aimee. She had to learn how to do physical activities different from other children. She spent her childhood partaking in sports such as soccer, swimming, biking, and softball and skiing. She was a very determined girl right off the bat.

Aimee competing in the Paralympics (http://www.girlshealth.gov/disability/fun/famous.h ())
Aimee competing in the Paralympics (http://www.girlshealth.gov/disability/fun/famous.h ())

What makes Mullins posthuman is her attitude towards her prosthetics. She doesn't view them as "fixing" something, but rather as augmentations. She says her special "cheetah" legs give her superpowers, says Anna Newitz. When Mullins was in college at Georgetown,
"She set her sights on making the US Team for the 1996 Atlanta Games. She enlisted the expertise of Frank Gagliano, one of the country's most respected track coaches. Through this partnership, she became the first woman with a "disability" to compete in the NCAA, doing so on Georgetown's nationally-ranked Division I track team. Outfitted with woven carbon-fiber prostheses that were modeled after the hind legs of a cheetah, she went on to set World Records in the 100 meter, the 200 meter, and the long jump, sparking a frenzy over the radical design of her prototype sprinting legs."
(http://www.ohiochannel.org/programs/Program.aspx?programId=112174)

Things didn't stop for Aimee Mullins. Even though Aimee double majored in History and Diplomacy and worked in the Pentagon, she became a muse for Alexander McQueen. He was a British fashion designer and couturier. The late designer had spotted her unique difference and proposed an innovative way of celebrating it. McQueen's idea was to replace her prosthetics with a pair of carved wooden boots. As she strode the catwalk at London Fashion Week, observers assumed that she was simply an intriguing new face. But when news leaked out afterwards, there was a backlash. McQueen was accused of turning his fashion show into a freak show, and Aimee was hailed as 'the new disabled supermodel' - a label she loathed, says Catherine O'Brien. Despite this extremely rude situation, Aimee was appointed global ambassador to L'Oreal Paris. She was the peachy-skinned, hazel-eyed blonde.

There have definitely been ups and downs to Aimee Mullins life. She was even accused of being at an advantage in wearing prosthetic limbs, says Mark Wilson. "My life is about having the will to prove what my body can do," says Mullins in the interview. Aimee Mullins is truly a hero at heart. Her strong will and dedication got her to where she is today. She could have lived her life in a wheelchair and withered away. She stuck with it and inspired many like her to achieve goals and make their dreams come true. Heroes come in all shapes and sized. Aimee may have been different, but she was not going to let that get in her way of her hopes and dreams.

Page created on 1/20/2015 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 1/20/2015 12:00:00 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.

Related Links

YouTube - Person of the Week
Mail Online - Meet Aimee Mullins

Extra Info



Poem dedicated to Aimee Mullins...
Have you once been told you weren't good enough?
You must overcome it all
Two steps
Find the courage behind all your worst fears
Then
Strive to make the best out of nothing
Don't give up all your hope yet
You are strong and worth it.

Bibliography

Speaker, Ted. "Aimee Mullins-Athlete and Actoress." [Online] Available www.ted.com/speakers/aimee_mullins. 2009.

O'Brien, Catherine. "Is there anything she can't do?." [Online] Available http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2006363/Meet-Aimee-Mullins-model-actress-Olympic-athlete. 2011.

Newitz, Annalee. "Protraits In Posthumanity: Aimee Mullins." [Online] Available http://io9.com/5535730/portraits-in-posthumanity-aimee-mullins. 2010.

Wilson, Mark. "Racing on Carbon Fiber Legs: How Abled SHould We Be?." [Online] Available http://gizmodo.com/5403322/racing-on-carbon-fiber-legs-how-abled-should-we-be. 2009.