Age: 41 years old
Based in: Louisville, Kentucky
Instagram: @positivelyparalyzed
Jerrod, a C5 quadriplegic from Lawrence, Kansas,’s life took an unexpected turn in 2011 when he broke his neck while on vacation in Mexico. His passion for fitness was ignited while training on a handcycle for the 2021 New York City Marathon. “This experience inspired my mission to showcase the freedom that fitness brings to people with disabilities,” he says. He is currently the founder of PositivelyParalyzed LLC, a platform that reaches over 20 million people through social media and advocates for the inclusion and empowerment of individuals with disabilities. “Through leading hand cycling classes, developing new adaptive workout programs, and coaching others in the fitness industry, my ultimate goal is to help people improve their strength, recovery, and It’s about being able to embrace power, possibility,” he says. “We want to leave a legacy where fitness is seen as a right, not a privilege, for everyone.”
