By Jewel Connelly, Communications Specialist
You may recognize Gary Weiland from his appearances on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior (ANW), making history in season 15 as the first amputee to reach the show’s semifinals. Or perhaps you saw him during the 2023 National Conference in Orlando, Florida, giving his AC Talk titled ‘Adapt and Overcome.’ Whether he is on duty at the fire department, scaling obstacles on ANW, or trying out another adaptive sport, Gary has maintained his active lifestyle and believes in the power of movement to improve mindset.
Recovering from limb loss is just as much about conquering the mental as it is physical, and this is why the phrase ‘adapt and overcome’ has become Gary’s life motto since his amputation in 2018. He knew he didn’t want to give up his career as a firefighter, and with his wife and children counting on him, Gary pushed forward in his recovery and returned to work 10 months later. As a National Athlete Advocate Ambassador (NAAA), Gary wants to remind both amputees and able-bodied people that they too can do hard things and sports have given him a platform to share his experiences to give others hope. “I think that being physically active plays a huge role in our mental state as amputees and our ability to be positive and optimistic really does stem from our ability to be physically active,” Gary said. “We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond, and I want to show other amputees that this is a decision we get to make.”
In April, Gary experienced a full circle moment when he ran in his first Boston Marathon (alongside his wife) for 50 Legs, the charity which provided him the prosthetic leg he uses as a firefighter. Because the leg he received was able to fit into the fire boot, Gary left it at the station so when a call came, he could quickly put on the work leg, pull up his turnout pants and be ready to go within the required 60 seconds. Returning to the job was really the turning point for Gary to imagine what else was possible if he put in the time and effort. “I accomplished that huge challenge and that’s what lit this other fire inside of me to see what else I could do.” Eager to find out, he got involved in wheelchair basketball, adaptive beach volleyball, and even ventured into the adrenaline-filled sports of U.S. para bobsled (2023 U.S. Para Bobsled Push Division National Champion) and skeleton. “It’s exhilarating, it’s like driving a firetruck,” he shared about bobsledding. “My job has trained us to be calm amongst the chaos so when I’m going down the bobsled track, I can remember the turns and I know what I’m supposed to do. I keep my heart rate down and it’s a really good fit.”
Not only has Gary returned to firefighting, but his journey also inspired the father of four to become a children’s book author (Fischer series ) and motivational speaker to help others overcome the adversity in their lives. As messages pour in from strangers via social media who have been encouraged by his story, Gary is constantly reminded of the impact each person can make. “You never know how you are encouraging or inspiring those around you,” he said. “As long as you’re in it for the right reason, you can make a difference in your own community for just one person if you want to.”
Since every person is unique, Gary emphasizes that it’s important to take a group approach to raising awareness for the community. “I really believe that we are all born with different gifts, talents, and abilities, and mine is different than yours,” he continued. “I highly encourage people to figure out what gift or ability is inside of you and just run with that to make a difference.” With a heart for kids, Gary even taps into his alter ego, the “FAN (firefighter, amputee, ninja) Man” as a fun way to talk to kids about how to overcome obstacles and teach them to never give up. “My platform doesn’t connect with everyone the same way and that’s fine, because someone else can reach those people better than I can,” he said. “That’s why we’re all in this together.”
In his own life, the process of learning to adapt and overcome is very real and it’s this mindset which has paved the way for his success. “It’s our attitude that propels us forward,” he responded when asked what message he wanted to leave people with. “I would challenge anyone who is going through adversity instead of thinking ‘why did this happen TO me?’ to think ‘why did this happen FOR me?’” As a part of this inaugural group of ambassadors, Gary will continue to model the value of being active and choosing empowering thoughts, helping others to expand the idea of what’s possible in their own stories.
Follow Gary on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn and visit www.garyweiland.com to learn more and connect.