Meet Adaptive Athlete: Michael Culbertson

Michael Culbertson was born in Columbia, South Carolina and was involved in many sports throughout childhood including football, baseball, basketball, and soccer. He enjoyed playing these sports because they challenged him to get better and kept him active every day. He has carried on his passion for sports as he is now an assistant basketball coach for his highschool. His favorite teams include the Texas Longhorns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Manchester United.  

 

In February of 2016, Michael was involved in a car accident at night during which he was thrown from his vehicle through the windshield, with the car landing on top of him. In the accident his right leg was crushed and could not be saved by doctors, resulting in an amputation above the knee. He also fractured his skull and face, leaving him blind in one eye. 

 

During his recovery, Michael went through many surgical procedures which had been very frustrating at times but, through his hard work and resilience he was able to walk before doctors predicted he would begin walking again. Throughout his recovery, Michael has undergone additional surgeries due to lingering injuries from the wreck which have stunted his progress slightly. He relies on his amazing wife and family that continue to encourage and support him through his journey. 

 

Michael wants to use his time at ATF to learn useful skills in order to be a leader and a mentor for others who have undergone similar injuries to him. Physically, he would like to get into better shape and be able to return to some of the sports that he enjoyed playing as a young man. Mentally, he looks forward to being able to process and journal his thoughts on a consistent basis.