Paralympian and ESPY Award winner Mark Barr talks about reaching the pinnacle of his sport after a leg amputation because of cancer.
From an amputation to an ESPY Award, Paralympian Mark Barr says losing his leg to cancer was "the biggest blessing in disguise."Paralympian Mark Barr's life has revolved around sports since the beginning. He started swimming when he was just four years old, then started playing soccer and baseball. It wasn't until he was a teenager that he began having crippling knee pain and received a diagnosis he never saw coming.
After his amputation, it was a nurse in the recovery room who gave him hope and helped him realize there is life after amputation. She herself was an amputee and a Paralympic swimmer. Barr got back into the pool as soon as he was able and in 2004, he qualified for the Athens Paralympic Summer Games. The same year, he started college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he competed on the swim team. At the World Para Athletic Championships in 2006, Barr placed second in the 100 fly. He also competed in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing before taking on a new challenge training for triathlons.
"Having other athletes out there with Team Catapult, to walk you through that and teach you first hand is invaluable," said Barr, who has become a big supporter of Team Catapults mission. He helps mentor new athletes within the group.
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