Amy Purdy
Dive into the inspiring life of Amy Purdy—American actress, para-snowboarder, motivational speaker, and author. Explore her journey from tragedy to triumph, her philosophies, and quotes that motivate millions.
Introduction
Amy Michelle Purdy (born November 7, 1979) is an American actress, model, para-snowboarder, motivational speaker, fashion designer, and author. Her life story is one of adversity, adaptation, and unyielding determination. After surviving a life-threatening illness in her late teens that led to the amputation of both legs below the knee, Purdy rebuilt her life. She emerged not only as an elite adaptive athlete—earning multiple Paralympic medals—but also as a public figure who inspires others through storytelling, performance, and advocacy.
She is widely recognized for her role co-founding Adaptive Action Sports, competing as a Paralympic snowboarder, appearing on Dancing with the Stars, publishing her memoir, and delivering powerful keynote talks.
Early Life and Family
Amy Purdy was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1979.
At age 19, she fell gravely ill. What began as flu-like symptoms rapidly escalated: she went into septic shock, suffered multiple organ failure, and lost circulation to her extremities.
In a profound act of sacrifice, two years later her father donated one of his kidneys to her, enabling her to continue living.
Despite this extraordinarily difficult episode, Purdy chose not to surrender to despair. She committed herself to rehabilitation, adaptation, and a new purpose.
Youth, Recovery & Reinvention
After her surgeries and recovery, Purdy confronted not only the physical challenges of prosthetics, but also the emotional and identity questions of living in a transformed body. In time, she returned to the sports and activities she loved. Remarkably:
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About seven months after receiving prosthetic legs, she started snowboarding again.
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Within roughly a year of her amputation, she placed third in a snowboarding competition at Mammoth Mountain.
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She became actively involved with the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), which helped fund her training and competition efforts.
Purdy also explored creative and expressive outlets: modeling, acting, and working with prosthetics advocacy.
Career and Achievements
Co-founding Adaptive Action Sports & Athletics
One of Amy’s landmark contributions is Adaptive Action Sports, which she co-founded to provide opportunities for people with physical disabilities in action sports like snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, and more.
In the realm of competitive para-snowboarding:
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In the 2014 Winter Paralympics, Purdy won a bronze medal in Snowboard Cross.
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In the 2018 Winter Paralympics, she earned a silver medal.
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Over her athletic career, she became one of the most decorated U.S. Paralympic snowboarders.
She formally retired from competitive sports in March 2022.
Television, Acting & Public Appearances
Purdy has expanded her influence via television and media:
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She competed in Dancing with the Stars (Season 18), paired with Derek Hough. She became the first double-amputee contestant on the show.
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Despite her challenges, she delivered outstanding performances—earning perfect scores in the Argentine Tango and advancing to the finals.
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She made acting appearances too, including in the film What’s Bugging Seth (2005).
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She has also appeared in modeling work and music videos (e.g. a Madonna video) prior to her illness.
In 2015, her story was featured in a Super Bowl commercial for Toyota, blending snowboarding, dance, and prosthetic imagery alongside Muhammad Ali’s “How Great I Am” narration.
Authorship, Speaking, and Advocacy
Purdy also became a New York Times bestselling author. On December 30, 2014, she published On My Own Two Feet: From Losing My Legs to Learning the Dance of Life.
She is in demand as a motivational keynote speaker, global advocate, and thought leader, often speaking about resilience, identity, and reimagining limitations.
She has also been recognized as one of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100 visionaries.
Historical Milestones & Context
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Amy Purdy’s survival from a septic shock event with only ~2% chance is a dramatic turning point, marking a rebirth of her identity and purpose.
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Her ability to return to snowboarding and competition so soon after amputation challenged widely held assumptions about disability and athleticism.
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Through Adaptive Action Sports, she has helped open doors for adaptive athletes and pushed for greater visibility and inclusion in action sports.
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Her presence on Dancing with the Stars brought mainstream attention to adaptive performance, and her dance with a KUKA robotic arm during the 2016 Paralympic opening ceremonies symbolized the intersection of human and machine.
Legacy and Influence
Amy Purdy’s legacy resonates on multiple levels:
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Redefining Ability and Identity
She has shown that a person’s value, purpose, and creativity are not limited by physical boundaries. Her journey reshapes public perception of disability and ability. -
Empowerment Through Story
Her storytelling—through speeches, writing, visuals—gives others permission to see their own potential, even from hardship. -
Institutional Change
Through Adaptive Action Sports, she has built an infrastructure that supports future adaptive athletes in sport, art, and movement. -
Bridging Worlds
She operates at the intersection of sports, performance, technology, and identity, helping choreograph a new narrative of human possibility. -
Inspirational Icon
For people worldwide living with adversity—physical, mental, or otherwise—Purdy stands as proof that one can rebuild, reimagine, and flourish.
Personality and Talents
Amy Purdy is frequently described as courageous, authentic, driven, and compassionate. Her talent lies not just in athleticism or performance, but in her capacity to translate experience into meaning, to invite others into possibility, and to champion dignity.
She leads with vulnerability and conviction: acknowledging fear, uncertainty, and struggle while choosing action. Her capacity to connect—whether through public speaking, social media, writing, dance, or sport—gives her a rare voice.
She also remains curious and experimental: working with prosthetics, robotics, dance, and art to continuously expand what is possible.
Famous Quotes of Amy Purdy
Here are some of her most meaningful quotes:
“Wear the things that tell your story.”
“Life is not about what happens to you, but how you respond.”
“You don’t get a choice about what happens to you, but you do get a choice about how you live.”
“You cannot be a mere survivor, you must become someone who thrives.”
“There’s always something to be grateful for—even when life has taken so much away.”
“Adversity gives you perspective, and perspective gives you strength.”
These quotes underscore her themes: resilience, narrative, choice, gratitude, and transformation.
Lessons from Amy Purdy
From Amy’s life and work, we can extract timeless lessons:
1. Your Story Is Power
Even when life is not of your choosing, you own your interpretation and narration. How you tell your story matters.
2. Resilience Is an Active Practice
Recovery, adaptation, reinventing yourself—that’s not passive: it’s daily choice, grit, and humility.
3. Embrace Vulnerability to Connect
By sharing pain and uncertainty, you invite others. That connection becomes a powerful catalyst for empathy and growth.
4. Redefine Limits
Boundaries exist—physical, mental, societal—but what matters is whether you respond by retreating or pushing them outward.
5. Invest in Others
Creating infrastructure (as she did via Adaptive Action Sports) amplifies impact beyond self.
6. Balance Ambition and Rest
Success does not demand relentless striving. Sometimes listening to your body, slowing, recovering, is itself a radical act.
Conclusion
Amy Purdy’s journey is one of profound transformation: from near-death and loss, to reinvention as an athlete, creator, and leader. Her life reminds us that challenge need not define destiny; purpose can emerge even from tragedy. Her voice invites us to lean into our edges, to tell stories courageous enough to heal and inspire, and to step into possibility beyond what we once believed.
If you’d like, I can also provide a timeline of her life or compare her to other inspirational figures. Would you like me to generate that?