Paul Martin
When Paul lost his leg at age 25, he took a good look at the situation and found not tragedy but opportunity. Through his positive attitude, determination and commitment, he turned adversity on its head and set off to become one of the best amputee athletes of all time. His Ironman Triathlon World Record, his Paralympic cycling medals and his critically acclaimed autobiography, One Man's Leg, give testament to the power attitude has over adversity.
Each of us faces adversity every day. Topping today's charts is the economy; companies are scratching for revenue, individuals are losing jobs. In 1992, a car accident claimed Paul Martin's left leg. Life is challenging.
Your organization is no stranger to challenges. You can call them adversities or obstacles or set backs. The rubs have many names, but only one true meaning: if they haven't already, they will either slow, delay or retract your progress.
Would you like the individuals in your organization to find a way to make the current economy and every other situation work for them instead of against them?
Of course you would. With the right attitude and some good old-fashioned work ethic, your organization will not only weather the storm, it will increase the bottom line.
So how do we deal with it? How do we defeat the 800 lb. gorilla? We start with bottomless optimism!
Paul wants you to embrace your obstacles. To view them with bottomless optimism. To accept every day with a great attitude.
His focus on attitude is complemented by qualities like commitment, dedication and work ethic. Paul Martin has thrived under adverse conditions and he’ll show your audience that “attitude will overcome adversity each and every time.”
Through his keynote presentation Paul will inspire your employees to take on the next challenge -
- Recharge your battery pack with Paul's message of attitude and optimism.
- Your employees will truly believe that there’s an opportunity in nearly every situation.
- Audience members are motivated to tackle new projects knowing that “it’s the struggles that make you shine.”
- Everyone who hears Paul wants to hit the gym on the way home!
Paul's attitude for optimism started early. In his blue-collar middle-class home town in Massachusetts his teenage lifestyle was far from exemplary. It was his relationship with his hard-drinking, heavy-handed father that taught him to make the most out of the hand you're dealt. At the age of 16, with his "create the solution" attitude, he checked himself into a foster home in pursuit of an environment where he could find comfort.
Several years later, after a stint as a structural steel erector, Paul graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and membership in the discipline's honor society. This degree was awarded just six months before a car accident led to the amputation of Paul's left leg five inches below the knee.
Owning the attitude that crosses rough terrain, Paul knew this latest obstacle would be a struggle, yet one he knew he could ultimately conquer. His optimism was the key to winning the battle.
Paul has since competed in ten Ironman Triathlons and currently holds the world record for leg amputees. (At that 2005 record-setting race, he finished 89th out of nearly 2000 able-bodied athletes!) He also won the Disabled Cycling World Championships in 2002 and brought home silver and bronze cycling medals from the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games.
Paul's critically acclaimed memoirs, One Man’s Leg, have inspired thousands around the country and were later published in Japan.
Career Highlights
- Ten-time Ironman finisher and leg amputee World Record Holder - 10:09:17
- Four-time International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Champion
- Six-time USA Triathlon National Champion
- 2005 ESPN’s Espy Awards Nominee for “Best Male Athlete with a Disability”
- 2004 Competitor Magazine’s Endurance Awards “Challenged Athlete of the Year”
- 2004 Athens Paralympic Cycling Team – Silver in the team sprint, bronze in the individual pursuit
- 2004 Boston Marathon – Personal Best, 3:24:49
- 2002 Disabled Cycling Time Trial World Champion
- 2001-04 Member of the US Amputee Hockey Team - two time World Championships silver medallists
- 2001 First leg amputee to participate in an expedition length adventure race – Expedition BVI
- 2000 Sydney Paralympic Cycling Team – 4th in the kilo, 6th in the pursuit, and 7th in the road race.
- 1998-99 Member of the US Disabled Alpine Ski Team
- 1999 First challenged athlete to complete The Double: Ironman Hawaii followed by the XTERRA Off-road Triathlon World Championships a week later in Maui
- 1997 US Olympic Committee’s Disabled Athlete of the Year
When Paul lost his leg at age 25, he took a good look at the situation and found not tragedy but opportunity. Through his positive attitude, determination and commitment, he turned adversity on its head and set off to become one of the best amputee athletes of all time. His Ironman Triathlon World Record, his Paralympic cycling medals and his critically acclaimed autobiography, One Man's Leg, give testament to the power attitude has over adversity.
Each of us faces adversity every day. Topping today's charts is the economy; companies are scratching for revenue, individuals are losing jobs. In 1992, a car accident claimed Paul Martin's left leg. Life is challenging.
Your organization is no stranger to challenges. You can call them adversities or obstacles or set backs. The rubs have many names, but only one true meaning: if they haven't already, they will either slow, delay or retract your progress.
Would you like the individuals in your organization to find a way to make the current economy and every other situation work for them instead of against them?
Of course you would. With the right attitude and some good old-fashioned work ethic, your organization will not only weather the storm, it will increase the bottom line.
So how do we deal with it? How do we defeat the 800 lb. gorilla? We start with bottomless optimism!
Paul wants you to embrace your obstacles. To view them with bottomless optimism. To accept every day with a great attitude.
His focus on attitude is complemented by qualities like commitment, dedication and work ethic. Paul Martin has thrived under adverse conditions and he’ll show your audience that “attitude will overcome adversity each and every time.”
Through his keynote presentation Paul will inspire your employees to take on the next challenge -
- Recharge your battery pack with Paul's message of attitude and optimism.
- Your employees will truly believe that there’s an opportunity in nearly every situation.
- Audience members are motivated to tackle new projects knowing that “it’s the struggles that make you shine.”
- Everyone who hears Paul wants to hit the gym on the way home!
Paul's attitude for optimism started early. In his blue-collar middle-class home town in Massachusetts his teenage lifestyle was far from exemplary. It was his relationship with his hard-drinking, heavy-handed father that taught him to make the most out of the hand you're dealt. At the age of 16, with his "create the solution" attitude, he checked himself into a foster home in pursuit of an environment where he could find comfort.
Several years later, after a stint as a structural steel erector, Paul graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and membership in the discipline's honor society. This degree was awarded just six months before a car accident led to the amputation of Paul's left leg five inches below the knee.
Owning the attitude that crosses rough terrain, Paul knew this latest obstacle would be a struggle, yet one he knew he could ultimately conquer. His optimism was the key to winning the battle.
Paul has since competed in ten Ironman Triathlons and currently holds the world record for leg amputees. (At that 2005 record-setting race, he finished 89th out of nearly 2000 able-bodied athletes!) He also won the Disabled Cycling World Championships in 2002 and brought home silver and bronze cycling medals from the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games.
Paul's critically acclaimed memoirs, One Man’s Leg, have inspired thousands around the country and were later published in Japan.
Career Highlights
- Ten-time Ironman finisher and leg amputee World Record Holder - 10:09:17
- Four-time International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Champion
- Six-time USA Triathlon National Champion
- 2005 ESPN’s Espy Awards Nominee for “Best Male Athlete with a Disability”
- 2004 Competitor Magazine’s Endurance Awards “Challenged Athlete of the Year”
- 2004 Athens Paralympic Cycling Team – Silver in the team sprint, bronze in the individual pursuit
- 2004 Boston Marathon – Personal Best, 3:24:49
- 2002 Disabled Cycling Time Trial World Champion
- 2001-04 Member of the US Amputee Hockey Team - two time World Championships silver medallists
- 2001 First leg amputee to participate in an expedition length adventure race – Expedition BVI
- 2000 Sydney Paralympic Cycling Team – 4th in the kilo, 6th in the pursuit, and 7th in the road race.
- 1998-99 Member of the US Disabled Alpine Ski Team
- 1999 First challenged athlete to complete The Double: Ironman Hawaii followed by the XTERRA Off-road Triathlon World Championships a week later in Maui
- 1997 US Olympic Committee’s Disabled Athlete of the Year
