Meet Adaptive Athlete: Dave Hausmann

Dr. Dave Hausmann grew up in Columbus, New Jersey, where he built a strong foundation in fitness and outdoor activity. He has long been passionate about pushing his physical limits through weightlifting, running, speed rope training, hiking, and scuba diving. For him, movement and performance have always been central - tools for discipline, focus, and personal growth.

 

On September 5, 2025, Dave experienced a sudden and life-threatening medical crisis caused by a rare flesh-eating bacterial infection, which led to septic shock, multi-organ failure, and extended life support. The severity of the infection ultimately resulted in a left knee disarticulation amputation on September 28, 2025. His recovery was complex and intense, including 39 additional days in the hospital and 29 blood transfusions.

 

Since his amputation, Dave has faced ongoing challenges with recovery complications, prosthetic fit, and equipment transitions, including time spent adapting to a test socket and navigating issues with a microprocessor knee system. Despite these setbacks, he returned to foundational strength work as soon as possible, focusing on weightlifting and basic mobility while continuing to rebuild his capacity step by step.

 

Now, Dave is focused on returning to peak performance and expanding what he believes is possible. His goals include building confidence in his movement, learning to run on a blade prosthetic, and reintroducing advanced conditioning like speed rope training. Through the Hyper program, he is seeking to strengthen both his physical ability and trust in himself, with the long-term goal of regaining athletic fluency and pushing beyond his current limits.