Born without lower legs, Blake Leeper has always refused to let his circumstances define him. As a child, he was fitted with prosthetic limbs, and went on to play baseball and basketball, undeterred by physical challenges. But it wasn’t until college that he discovered running—a sport that ignited his passion and became his lifeblood.

Leeper’s dedication led him to claim silver and bronze medals at the Paralympic Games. Today, his ambitions reach even higher: competing against able-bodied athletes in the Olympics. However, his quest faced a significant hurdle in February 2020, when World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, denied his bid to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, citing claims that his prosthetic blades provided an unfair advantage.

Undeterred, Leeper remains steadfast in his pursuit, challenging the decision and continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible.