Featured Forum Speakers

Baxter Humby
Baxter Humby is currently IMTC World Super Welterweight Champion. He holds numerous other title belts (winning nearly a dozen in his career) including IMTC World Middleweight Champion, IKKC USA Kickboxing Champion and IKBA International Kickboxing Champion. The “One Arm Bandit” holds black belts in both Taekwondo and Sik Tai. From a young age Baxter struggled with adversity…he was born with only one hand…to create a positive lifestyle, at age 11 he became interested in sports, running and other physical activities. He ran on the Canadian National Track Team, traveling to Barcelona in 1992 and to Berlin in 1994. He was 17 years old when martial arts entered his life. After winning the Canadian Super Welterweight Kickboxing Championship in 1996, he moved to California in 1997 to pursue a professional kickboxing career. He trains with former Light Heavyweight Muay Thai World Champion, Maurice Travis and Baxter has a fight record of 67-11-1. In addition, Baxter teaches kickboxing classes as well as providing private training at gyms in the Los Angeles area.





Oscar "Oz" Sanchez
Oz was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He joined the Marine Corps in 1996 and subsequently became a Reconnaissance Marine. After five years in the Marines, Oz decided to transfer to the Navy and operate as a Navy SEAL . In July 2001, during his transfer between branches, Oz was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury (SCI) and the inevitable paralysis and neurological complications associated with it. After the accident, Oz's biggest fear was being defined by his injury. As a result, he developed a new sense of direction and vigor for life. He pulled out of his post-injury depression and once again took a proactive approach to life. Shortly following his injury, Oz dedicated himself to educational studies. He recently graduated from San Diego State University with a business degree and a minor in public communications and intends to return to school for a masters degree in exercise science. Oz is also an elite handcycle racer. In 2007 he finished his second season with the US Paralympic Cycling Team and currently holds “Elite Athlete” status after competing in two World Championship events. Oz is ranked 2nd nationally and is among the top 5 handcyclists in the world. Oz is currently in training to represent the United States at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing.

Paul Martin
In December of 1992, Paul Martin survived a car accident that claimed his left leg below the knee. What for most would be a crushing blow changed Paul for the better, launching an athletic career that few will ever match �" and fewer would even attempt. Growing up, Paul used sports as his safe place �" a tranquil refuge from a tumultuous home life. After his accident, he used sports to transform himself. In the process, he blazed a bright path for other challenged athletes to follow. His phenomenal success at virtually everything he tries athletically provides him with a terrific platform for sharing his story and motivating others. Here is just a sampling of Paul’s achievements: U.S. National teams in four different sports. First leg amputee to complete an adventure race. First leg amputee to complete “the double” �" The Ironman Triathlon World Championship and the Xterra World Championship, held on back-to-back weekends. Nine Ironman finishes. International Triathlon Union World Champion. Two Silver medals as a member of the U.S. Team at the World Amputee Hockey Championships. Silver and Bronze medals in cycling at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. Paul’s motto is “do what you love, love what you do.” Based on his success, maybe the rest of us should adopt it too.

Casey Pieretti
In 1995, Casey lost his right leg below the knee in car wreck in Carson City, NV . Casey was on a college basketball scholarship at the time of his injury. After losing leg Casey continued his athletic pursuit first by racing in Triathlons. Doing his first one less then two years after losing his leg. He later became a professional inline stunt skater for Rollerblade and forming his own team that toured the country for six years. During that time Casey and friend Joel Bott skated from San Diego, CA to Washington D.C. in 89 days. Currently Casey is a stuntman/actor living in California. He will appear in the upcoming films, Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express, You Don't mess with the Zohan. He has appeared in the past in War of the Worlds, Death Sentence, Spiderman 2 and many others.

Sarah Reinertsen
Sarah was born “different”. Her left leg deformed by a condition called proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), Sarah wore a stiff, cumbersome leg brace until she was seven. At that point, the decision was made to amputate. After the operation, Sarah tried to be like all her friends; she was a Brownie. She was a great student. She had a smile that lit up a room. But she could never overcome being “different”. And nowhere was that more apparent than in gym class. She came in last on field day. She was picked last for teams. Teachers and coaches refused to include her in regular play with the other kids. Instead, Sarah would kick a ball against the wall. Alone. Life changed for Sarah when, at age 11, she competed in her first disabled track meet. Sarah lined up next to other girls missing limbs. When the gun went off for the 100 Meter dash, she ran hard and finished first. For the first time, she experienced the thrill of competition �" and of winning and her life would never be the same. Today, Sarah focuses on triathlons, where she has broken new ground and gone where no amputee woman has attempted before �" the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii (a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run.) This year, Sarah became the first woman to finish this grueling test on an artificial leg, finishing in a remarkable 15:05.

Major David Rozelle
Major David Rozelle, a below-knee amputee, is an icon, resource and inspirational figure for American soldiers injured in recent conflicts abroad. While in Iraq, commanding 140 troops of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Maj. Rozelle lost part of his right leg when a landmine exploded under his Humvee. After completing his rehabilitation, Major Rozelle made the decision to return to active duty and to the samebattlefield �" the first American soldier to do so in modern times. Now having completed a second tour in Iraq ona prosthetic leg, Maj. Rozelle continues to lead by example and is helping his fellow injured soldiers to reclaimactive lifestyles. He strongly believes in the healing power of sports to help accomplish his new mission. After participating in the 2004 San Diego Triathlon Challenge, Maj. Rozelle became a proud supporterof the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). He serves as a role model and mentor in CAF’s OperationRebound program. He recently represented the Challenged Athletes Foundation at the Ford IronmanCoeur d’Alene and was recognized with the Ford Ironman Everyday Hero Award. Afterwards, Rozelle was driven to conquer the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona �" animportant goal he set for himself to prove that he’s not only “back in action,” but back with a purpose. In Hawaii he went over an hour faster than his qualifying time, finishing in 12:46:26.

Carlos Moleda
Carlos Moleda grew up in São Paulo, Brazil. At age 18, he chose a life of adventure, moved to the United States and joined the Navy. His ability to work hard and learn fast eventually won him a coveted spot as a Navy SEAL. A few years later, he found himself in the middle of an intense firefight in Panama. Nine of the 10 men in his unit were wounded �" four fatally. Carlos was hit near his spine and leg, and lost feeling in his lower body forever. Competitive sports proved to be the best way to recover from this traumatic injury. Through an unyielding spirit and a passion for competition, Carlos turned his misfortune into his greatest adventure: becoming a champion. Today, Carlos is a winner of the 367-mile Sadlers Ultra Challenge handcycle race in Alaska, a two-time National Handcycling Champion and a three-time Hawaii Ironman Champion where he holds the record for the physically challenged division. Carlos appreciates how far he’s come. To help others, he serves as a spokesman for the Challenged Athletes Foundation and uses his expertise and motivational skills to teach younger kids with disabilities how to ride handcycles.

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