Thank you to @rsewell92 @grandcentralpub and @legacylitbooks for the #gifted e-book and @hachetteaudio for the #gifted audiobook read by the author.

I picked up this book because I am passionate about stories of athletes who triumph over disabilities to achieve the extraordinary. I also deeply admire the Challenged Athletes Foundation and their remarkable work over the past 30 years. Attending the CAF races was inspiring and motivating. Growing up in San Diego, I was particularly thrilled to read about the familiar places where Roderick trained and developed into the athlete he is today.

This heartwarming memoir chronicles the journey of a young boy and his mother as they rise above poverty and Roderick's disabilities to ultimately become a college graduate and elite athlete. As a double amputee from the age of two, Roderick quietly pushed himself to excel. However, everything changed when he met a woman who introduced him to wheelchair basketball; this moment ignited his passion for sports. From there, he transitioned into swimming and began training to become a competitive swimmer and Paralympic athlete. In a groundbreaking achievement, Roderick finished the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii in 2019, making history as the first bilateral above-the-knee amputee.The Ironman is an extraordinary long-distance triathlon that challenges athletes with a formidable 2.4-mile swim, a grueling 112-mile bike ride, and a relentless 26.2-mile run.

This book stands as a profound testament to inspiration and resilience. Roderick's journey is both heartrending and uplifting as he candidly shares the trials of his upbringing. His mother’s unwavering determination provided him with the gift of family, stability, education, and sports, shaping his path toward triumph. I can't recommend this book highly enough, it's available now and it deserves a spot on your reading list.