Ambassadors
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Giuseppe Castellano
On February 16, 2020, Giuseppe was involved in a severe motorcycle accident that resulted in the transfemoral amputation of his left leg. Before the accident, he was already a passionate athlete and practiced two disciplines: freediving, where he had achieved a Level 2 certification and an assistant instructor qualification, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Despite the challenges posed by his new condition, Giuseppe has continued to dedicate himself to both of his passions, adapting with great willpower and determination.
His resilience has not only allowed him to remain active in what he loves, but it has also made him an example for others, inspiring those who share these disciplines with him and giving strength to his family, who support him in this new chapter of his life.
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Robert Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez was born with a birth defect called fibular hemimelia. At ten months old, his mother faced the tough decision to amputate his leg. She was unsure if she was making the right decision for her son, but Robert is thankful she did. Due to his amputation and wearing a prosthetic, he is proud to show others that he, and all amputees, are capable of doing the same things as any other able-bodied individual.
Today, Robert is a father, a husband, a motivational speaker, and an athlete. He competes on the Para-Elite Triathlon Team for Team USA and Team USA for amputee soccer. The trials and tribulations Robert has had to mentally and physically overcome as a young man has taught him to always push through no matter the circumstances. Through his experiences, he has learned that sometimes things aren’t as bad as they seem, and success is on the other side if we continue to work hard.
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Massimo Giandinoto
When Massimo was 9, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma on his left heel and it was decided a month later that the limb had to be amputated immediately. Despite this, he spent a lot of time doing sports like running and pararafting. In 2018 he won the Italian Championship for both the 60-meter and the 200-meter indoor and he was contacted by the Italian Rafting Federation. Sports have always been a fundamental part of his life. It’s what saved him, making him feel like he fits in with everybody else.
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Let yourself be inspired by the stories that motivate us to keep doing our very best every day to improve the lives and mobility of people who have lost a leg.
These are the stories of people who have found the motivation and the strength to start over, to take their lives into their own hands and transform them into something precious and unique.
Steven Mosqueda
Steven Mosqueda, born and raised in Riverside, California, has a deep love for basketball. Even after losing his leg due to a car accident at the age of 22, he didn’t give up on his passion for the game. Despite facing this traumatic experience, Steven is still grateful for his ability to move, be independent, and push himself to achieve his goals. Today, Steven is one of the core members of a non-profit basketball team called Amp1 Basketball, which includes four other individuals living with limb loss. The team is devoted to inspiring, educating, and motivating anyone they encounter.
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Bill Zabelny
Bill Zabelny had a childhood dream of becoming a professional hockey player and being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. However, his life took an unexpected turn when he was involved in a car accident at the age of 12, which resulted in the loss of his right leg. Despite facing a challenging situation, Bill refused to abandon his passion for hockey. He worked hard and remained determined, and eventually, his dreams became a reality. In 2001, he began playing standing amputee ice hockey at an international level for Team USA, where he became a four-time silver medalist. In recognition of his achievements, Bill was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the United States and Canada. Today, both locations display permanent artifacts of Bill’s prosthetic leg.
Since his time with Team USA, Bill has written the award winning book titled “A Man’s Legacy: The Chronicles of Bill Zabelny”. He still leads an active lifestyle and plays ice hockey three times a week, which shows his undying passion for the sport. Along with ice hockey, he enjoys rollerblading and playing pickleball, which keep him physically fit. He also visits the gym and practices Pilates to maintain his strength and flexibility. These activities contribute not only to his physical well-being but also bring him joy and fulfillment.
Bill’s story serves as a true inspiration to all those dreams and aspirationswho have .
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Alan Fonteles
At only 21 days of life, both Alan’s legs were amputated after septicemia. He got his first prosthetics when he was nine months old. Alan wanted to run, so his mother asked if her son could train with the others athletes. He began running with wooden prostheses and used to bleed during practice but his passion was more powerful, he learnt to work through the pain. At the 2012 Paralympics in London he won gold in the T44 200m and on July 2013 he became the world’s fastest double-amputee athlete.
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Miroslav Motejzík
In 2010, Miroslav was involved in a car accident and as a result, his left leg was amputated below the knee. Using ALPS liners has increased his confidence, whether it’s riding his mountain bike, hiking or skiing. Miroslav is really active and he motivates others every day.
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