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Amy Purdy Biography

Birth Name:Amy Purdy

Birth Place:Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Profession Actress

Fast Facts

  • Co-founded Adaptive Action Sports with her partner Daniel Gale, a non-profit organization geared toward helping adaptive athletes get involved with sports, music and art
  • Has received the World Cup gold medal three times, in addition to being a top ranked adaptive snowboarder since 2011
  • After suffering from bacterial meningitis, she received surgery in 1999 to have both legs amputated below the knees
  • Began snowboarding at age 15, visiting the slopes on the weekends and during school breaks to compete part-time
  • Quote: "I always say snowboarding saved my life ․․․ It gave me a reason to focus on the future, it gave me something to be passionate about․"
  • Quote: "I think the most exciting part is to know that when I am in those start gates in Sochi that I have the support of other Paralympians, Olympians, my sponsors and the world behind me․"
  • Quote: "I rely 100 percent on my equipment, and my equipment, meaning my legs, have to work for me․"
  • Received a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation in 2004, allowing her to travel to various snowboarding competitions in the U․S
  • Competed in the first-ever snowboarding event for the Paralympics at the 2014 Olympic Games
  • Along with ten other Olympians, she created a series of motivational videos, proceeds from which went toward providing breakfast for children in need