161 | Triathlete and Author Roderick Sewell on Defying Odds and Creating a Legacy Beyond Sports

" Representation does matter. Because I've been to Zambia, Ethiopia, and Kenya with this same team, and when they see somebody who looks like them and is also walking on prosthetics … this child might be 18 and has never had a prosthetic. Now they're like, 'Oh, I have the motivation to not only try it, but know that I can live a normal life." On Oct. 12, 2019, marathoner Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour barrier in the marathon distance. The next day, his compatriot Brigid Kosgei shattered the official women's marathon world record, running 2:14:04 in Chicago. Between the two, another historic athletic event occurred in Kona, Hawaii. Roderick Sewell, a Paralympic swimmer, finished the Ironman World Championship. In doing so, he became the first double above-the-knee amputee to cross the line of the grueling endurance challenge. In some ways, he barely had any time to train, as he shares in this week's episode—he'd been invited to compete via the Challenged Athletes Foundation only three months prior. Although he was already an elite swimmer, he didn't have a bike, and his longest run was a half marathon (half the distance he'd run in Hawaii, 26.2 miles—after a 2.4-mile swim and 112-mile bike). But in other ways, it was a mission Roderick had been preparing for his whole life, from the time he was born without tibias and his mother made the difficult decision to have his legs amputated. He writes about their relationship and her sacrifices beautifully in his recent memoir, Iron Will. Through the book and our conversation, it's clear that his accomplishment in Kona is more than a personal victory. Along with the rest of his athletic career and his life, it's a gift back to her, as well as an example to others about what's possible. Resources/links: Roderick's InstagramHis book Iron Will: An Amputee's Journey to Athletic ExcellenceNo Legs, No Limits: The Roderick Sewell Story, a GameChange Original film about him A huge thank you to LEVER Movement, the exclusive sponsor of season 9 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast! They're the creators of the LEVER system, a portable, lightweight device that attaches to a treadmill to reduce your body weight. Use the code INJURED20 to get 20% off your purchase here. You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show. To access more resources for injured athletes: Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cardsAccess webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our workJoin The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updatesJoin The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderieLike The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodesEmail us at [e-mail] with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.