Meet Adaptive Athlete: Sam Schaefer

Sam grew up in St. Louis, Missouri where he was active in many sports throughout his youth. He played soccer, baseball, and basketball but ultimately pursued soccer as he grew older and excelled. Sam joined the Air Force in 2010 and was involved in a training accident that broke his ankle and fibula, while he was training to become a Combat Controller in June of 2011. That injury resulted in nine years of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) which ultimately led to his amputation in August of 2020. 

 

After his amputation, Sam was introduced to a whole new world of adaptive sports he had never known. He has participated in the Highland Games as well as boxing and, more recently, ultra-running. Sam is currently training for an upcoming boxing match as well as a 30K ultra marathon.