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Writer's pictureElla Lucas-Averett

003: Beyond Limits: 7-time Paralympian Chris Waddell's Quest to Summit Mt. Kilimanjaro Unassisted

The Other Side of Success episode 003

Paralympian Chris Waddell - The Other Side of Success

"My goal was I wanted to be the best monoskier in the world, the fastest monoskier in the world, the fastest monoskier regardless of level of injury."

Chris Waddell was in college when a skiing accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. The moment he learned of his paralysis was a moment of reckoning, and it was in its own way, only the beginning. What followed was an incredibly accomplished career as a champion skier, seven-time Paralympian, and:


  • 13 Paralympic Medals - the most medals of any male monoskier in Paralympic history

  • Paralympic Hall of Fame induction

  • World Champion Winter and Summer Sports

  • US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame induction


"And this idea popped in my head. It said, you need to climb Mount Kilimanjaro."

When he attempted to become the first unassisted paraplegic to summit Mt Kilimanjaro, he stood on the shoulders of his heroes to turn the impossible into reality and give others the courage to confront their fears to live and perform most fully. The climb wasn’t without incident, and a key “failure” allowed him to separate from the obligation to be a superhero—to be honest, vulnerable and to find his real power.


Commitment, fear, success, identity, and craft are all interconnected themes that are evident in Chris Waddell's journey.


Success, for Waddell, was not just about winning medals or breaking records. It was about proving to himself and others that anything is possible with dedication and perseverance. Chris teaches us that with the right mindset and focused determination, we can find the strength and courage to overcome adversity and achieve greatness.


Chris's journey serves as a reminder that failure is a stepping stone to growth and transformation.



Chris Waddell

Chris Waddell

A popular keynote speaker, Chris helps audiences become champions of their businesses, their worlds and themselves. He has spoken to nearly every industry and kind of audience—from Fortune 500 Companies to non-profits, from sales groups to venture capitalists and engineers. He inspires audiences to consider how seemingly ordinary people can achieve the impossible.


Connect with Chris:



 

The Other Side of Success podcast

"The Other Side of Success," is a limited-run series brought to you by LIVE BETTER Media, and hosted by Ella Lucas-Averett.


In each episode, we expose the hidden side of success. You'll hear from successful people that every failure you survive is a lesson - and that the resilience that failures creates is required to be truly successful.


We’re extracting the insights and resilience gained from these experiences - because behind every success story, there's a tale of epic failure waiting to be told!


NOMINATE A GUEST: do you have (or know of) an epic story of failure on the path to success? Nominate them as our next guest here:



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CONNECT WITH ELLA:


➡️ LinkedIn: Ella Lucas-Averett


➡️ Instagram: @onairwithella


📺 YouTube Channel: @onairwithella


🎧 ON AIR WITH ELLA - women's wellness podcast



 


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