Blake Leeper is an eight-time Paralympic Track and Field international medalist, world record holder, and three-time American record holder. Over 400 meters, he’s the fastest adaptive runner in Team USA History and the only one to ever do it in under 45 seconds.
From Kingsport, Tennessee, Blake was born without legs from a congenital birth defect and did not start racing until he was twenty years old. It was at the first-ever race that he caught the attention of the Director of High Performance for U.S. Paralympics Track and Field, who convinced his parents to let their son move into the Olympic Training Center and go all-in on running. He put aside pursuits of a medical career and left the University of Tennessee to embark on a journey that no one could have ever envisioned for a young man born without legs. He began to run and run fast, all over the world. Leeper’s medal collection now includes one gold, six silver, and one bronze. Over his career, he hopes to win more medals than any Paralympic athlete in track and field history and, perhaps more importantly, to become the first adaptive American track and field athlete to qualify for the Olympic Games.
A dynamic, fire and brimstone-like TEDx talk in The Netherlands put Leeper on the inspirational speaker map, where his signature big energy and effusive passion were on full display. Now a seasoned veteran of the speaking stage, Leeper regularly shares his inspiring story with audiences across the country and around the world. Often, when faced with adversity, we ask, “Why? Blake flips the script and challenges his audiences to disempower adversity and overcome it by asking, “Why not me?”
An aspiring actor who is based in LA, Blake regularly participates in commercial and small TV/movie roles. Blake is an active supporter of the Wiggle Your Toes Foundation and the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
