A 16-year-old from Ambler, Pennsylvania, is pursuing a career in track and field with the ultimate goal of competing in the Paralympic Games, despite being a quadruple amputee. Chase Mayweather lost his legs and most of his arms at age 3 after a septic shock incident that required doctors to remove his limbs to save his life.
Mayweather, a high school sophomore, uses prosthetic running blades to compete. He has also participated in baseball, soccer, and football, but has found his true calling in track. This past season marked his most successful to date, with him placing in dual meets, competing at districts, and advancing to the state championships. "It feels amazing to accomplish this much," he told ABC 6.
He now has his sights set on the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Few athletes with amputations in both arms and legs have competed in the Paralympics, and Mayweather aims to join a select group. He draws inspiration from athletes like Ellie Challis, a British swimmer who competed in 2024, and Brazilian swimmer Gabriel Araujo, a 2002 Paralympian.
Mayweather expressed his determination, stating, "If you keep going and never stop trying, you will always chase that dream and will eventually get it. You just gotta run your race. I gotta run mine."