Meet Adaptive Athlete: Ryan Zimmerer

Ryan Zimmerer was raised in Valley View, Texas. Homeschooled as a kid, he grew up immersed in football, hunting, and fishing - activities that built his toughness, love for the outdoors, and competitive edge.

 

After high school, Ryan enlisted in the Marine Corps on December 10, 2007, serving as an 0331 Machine Gunner (LCpl) until February 28, 2010. He deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit out of Okinawa, Japan, in January 2009.

 

On February 4, 2009, during a Maritime Raid Force training mission aboard a ship, Ryan was fast-roping from a helicopter to the flight deck when his foot caught. He fell 15 meters, landing hard on the deck. The impact led to severe injuries that required nearly 17 years of recovery, including frequent surgeries in the first eight years. The early period was dominated by heavy drugs and alcohol to manage pain and numb daily life, pushing his mental health to rock bottom with multiple suicide attempts. Around the eight-year mark, things began to turn - support from Adaptive Training Foundation and other nonprofits helped him regain control. In 2016, he underwent left leg amputation and found a better rhythm for a time, but his right ankle deteriorated, bringing renewed pain and mental battles. His most recent amputation in November 2024 cleared major complications, finally reducing pain significantly and opening the door to test his true limits.

 

Today, Ryan is pushing forward with renewed energy. Physically, he is determined to learn to run again - something taken by the injury - and rebuild maximum strength, reclaiming the power he once had (in 2018 he was just 25 pounds shy of a single-leg deadlift world record). Mentally, he wants to master breath work to better control emotions, stay grounded, and maintain the progress he's fought so hard to achieve.