JOVAN BOOKER

There are two things that Jovan Booker is especially passionate about: soccer and empowering youth who have limb loss and limb difference.

BY JEWEL CONNELLY

There are two things that Jovan Booker is especially passionate about: soccer and empowering youth who have limb loss and limb difference. And in his role as a National Athlete Advocate Ambassador (NAAA), he has had more opportunities to bring the two together throughout 2024. As the starting forward of the U.S. men’s national amputee soccer team, Jovan has competed in two World Cups (Turkey 2022, Mexico 2018), many international matches, and is also the captain of the New York Metro Amputee soccer team. But beyond just being a high-performance athlete, the Long Island native wants to leave a legacy through education and service to the community.

Born with Fibular Hemimelia, Jovan had his right leg amputated at 10 months old and has been incredibly active since childhood. “Soccer was my first love,” he shared. “I grew up watching my dad play and I started playing organized soccer when I was 4. My dad was my coach.” Jovan played on multiple club and travel teams over the years, but when he lost his father, playing soccer took a backseat. The next sport Jovan picked up was basketball, which also became a big part of his life for many years with Amp 1, a stand-up amputee basketball team. In 2016 he was invited to a U.S. Amputee Soccer Association training camp which landed him on the national team and rekindled his love for soccer.

As a kid whose life was shaped by his experiences playing adaptive sports, Jovan is equally passionate about helping to facilitate these life-changing opportunities for youth just like him. Currently, he works in the disability education space as the Bionic Project, Inc.’

Educator and was able to connect with Youth Camp attendees during the Amputee Coalition’s 2023 National Conference. When approached about joining the NAAA campaign, he was eager to get involved since it was aligned with the work he is already doing. “One of my biggest drives for wanting to join this program comes from one of my favorite scriptures, Micah 4:6-7,” he shared. “My Christian faith is a huge part of my life and I believe serving my community is a big part of my purpose.” He also talked about the tremendous value of having role models who look like you and those you feel comfortable to be vulnerable with and ask questions. While he didn’t always have people around who were amputees, he wants to be that relatable role model for whoever needs one on their journey.

Undoubtedly, soccer has opened a lot of doors for Jovan and been the catalyst for many wonderful opportunities to see the world and meet new people for which he is grateful. But ultimately, he views sports as having a greater purpose: a tool for connection and confidence building. Specifically, his New York Metro team has a lot of players who are refugees and Jovan has seen how the team has served as a new family for them and created a space to feel included. “I really see sports as therapy,” he explained. “It’s such a positive outlet, especially for young people growing up with disabilities to gain leadership qualities, a sense of community, purpose, and build confidence in themselves. In adaptive sports, it’s an opportunity for people to see them as young athletes and people first, not for their disability first.” This sense of empowerment that comes from playing a competitive sport is so beneficial because it also translates into other areas of life.

For Jovan, being an ambassador is ultimately about creating an approachable space via social media and making himself accessible to the entire community. Whether it’s helping to connect a kid to the Youth Engagement Program (YEP) or get someone involved in an adaptive sport, his goal is to be a resource. And along with this, another important aspect of his role is raising others up to be role models in their own spheres of influence. “Every kid who is growing up with a disability also has an opportunity to be a role model for the next young person,” Jovan said. “I’m only one human being, there’s only so many I can reach. But I do believe that just planting a seed in one person can continue to make an impact on the masses.” With a little intentionality, athletes of all kinds and at all levels can make a difference by elevating their voices right where they are.

Follow Jovan on Instagram (@jovanbookerofficial) and Facebook to stay connected.