Paralysis, Perseverance, and Possibility: How Adam Gorlitsky Achieved the Impossible | EP7

Good Skill

Adam Gorlitsky is a pioneer in the world of adaptive athletics and the founder of I GOT LEGS, a non-profit organization dedicated to ReEnabling individuals with spinal cord injuries. On December 30, 2005, Adam was involved in a catastrophic car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors believed he would never walk again. However, a decade later, Adam defied the odds and became the first paralyzed man to walk the Cooper River Bridge Run using a ReWalk robotic exoskeleton.

Since his groundbreaking achievement in 2016, Adam has participated in over 50 road races, including breaking a Guinness World Record for exoskeleton marathon walking. His journey from paralysis to becoming a beacon of hope for others with spinal cord injuries is a testament to human resilience and the power of innovative technology.

Show Notes

• Adam's life-changing accident and initial prognosis
• Introduction to the ReWalk robotic exoskeleton in 2015
• The birth of I GOT LEGS and its evolution from a personal fundraising effort to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
• Adam's first major achievement: completing the 2016 Cooper River Bridge Run
• The mission of I GOT LEGS and its impact on the spinal cord injury community
• Adam's remarkable athletic achievements, including his Guinness World Record
• The concept of being "ReEnabled" and how it differs from traditional notions of disability and ability
• The future of adaptive technology and its potential to transform lives

Adam's Stats

• Date of car accident: December 30, 2005
• Type of injury: Spinal Cord Injury, complete T-9
• Date of ReEnablement: December 30, 2015
• Assistive device: ReWalk Robotic Exoskeleton
• Total steps taken: 2 million and counting
• Total races walked: 51
• Career highlights:
• 2016 Cooper River Bridge Run
• 2018 Portlandathon
• 2020 Charleston Marathon
• Guinness World Record Holder for Fastest Marathon Distance in a Robotic Walking Device