Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to John-Edward Heath. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
John-Edward, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
When I was young I was never the one who was seen as the “hot” dude. I was also an overweight kid until I was 16 years old. I found myself in a gym for the first time at 17 when I joined the military and realized I was pretty good at it, only to find myself weighting in every style possible the last 17-18 years. That being said, I am known for wearing colorful clothes and some may say bold outfits. The confidence truly comes from losing the worry of what others think and luckly I developed that at a very young age. I would also say that sports and fitness has helped me all these years with confidence and self-esteem. Like they say feel good, look good.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
There are many titles and sports which I carry, However, my biggest mission is the education and advocacy of Adaptive Sports and the disabled community. I became a Left Below-The-Knee amputee in 2021. The challenges of learning to live without a limb occurred daily, but I could adapt and overcome them through social media and other amputees.
The uniqueness of my story is I started training for adaptive sports competitions and the Paralympic games 6 days post-amputation.
Thanks to organizations like 50 Legs they have assisted in providing funding for my prosthetic needs as a professional athlete.
The company Equipproducts is the Rogue of the disabled community and due to lack of funding, they are not able to mass produce and expand throughout the country to help the disabled community. But with their engineering, they have assisted in providing the equipment I needed to compete as a lower extremity athlete.
Lastly, the organization WheelWOD has given the adaptive crossfit community a space to compete along with a sense of community. It is hard being disabled as it is, through the community it is a little bit easier.
The goal has been to expand adaptive crossfit. There are a lot of disabled youth and adults who fear going into a non-disabled gym or not having the resources. With organizations like 50 Legs, WheelWOD and Equipproducts the goal is to motivate and drive everyday disabled people to walk into a CrossFit box to help improve their everyday life.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three qualities that have helped me in my journey are giving myself grace, discipline, and remembering my why. One of the biggest challenges after losing my leg has been trying to regain strength and movement in a way that was detrimental to my training. Every day I was trying to be “like I used to be” and I tried very hard to train the way I did when I was an able-bodied athlete. Until I realized that this was my new reality and my new normal. As humans, we are so hard on ourselves and if we do not preform at 100% every day we feel that our training or day has been wasted. But what I have learned is that the threshold each day is a different 100%. If your 100% is only at 50% that day then give your 100% at the 50%. Give your 100% in everything you do but do not be hard on yourself. Disclipne will outperform motivation any day of the week. There are days that you may not want to do what is the task at hand it is not motivation that pulls you on those days. As motivation fades away especially when you’re in a redundant schedule. Discipline plays the largest role in just about anything you set your mind to and without it, you will not achieve the goals you have set for yourself. Finally, my why has played the largest quality in my life. In 2018 I lost my best friend to suicide and fast forward to 2020 I lost my significant other to suicide. I live and breathe mental health. The world is a harsh reality and it is hard in general but we do not speak on how hard it can truly be. Throughout my career, I have been able to show vulnerability and true advocacy for mental health. Just because we are men does not mean we have to bottle our emotions. Instead, speak to them and work on how to improve them daily. Losing one person to suicide is too many.
The advice I would give anyone starting their journey either as a brand new amputee or as an adaptive athlete is, As a professional athlete who has faced challenges and triumphs, I want to share some advice with you. Embrace this change as an opportunity to redefine your limits, rather than a setback. Your determination and resilience brought you to this point, and they will continue to drive you forward. Surround yourself with a supportive team of medical professionals, trainers, and loved ones who believe in your potential. Remember, adaptation takes time, so be patient with yourself during the process of mastering your prosthetic limb and relearning movements. Set realistic goals, both big and small, and celebrate each accomplishment along the way. Your journey will inspire others and showcase the incredible strength of the human spirit. Stay focused, stay positive, and keep pushing yourself.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
In an era where social responsibility and inclusivity are paramount, our values align seamlessly with your brand’s commitment to fostering a diverse and equitable community. There is little to no financial or sponsorship support for adaptive athletes and Paralympic (Hopefuls). Support will not only fuel the dreams and aspirations of an athlete but also create a platform that celebrates diversity, showcases true grit, and redefines the boundaries of human potential. Together, we can amplify the voices of adaptive athletes, demonstrating that strength knows no bounds. Your sponsorship will not only cultivate a positive and lasting impact but also position your brand as a catalyst for change and progress. Join us on this remarkable journey of empowerment and transformation. Through sponsorship and support, there can be massive education and exposure to the adaptive sports world and the disabled community.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: CarbonFiber_John_
- Facebook: John-Edward Heath
- Linkedin: John-Edward Heath
- Twitter: CarbonFiberJohn
Image Credits
Donovon Klem IG: Legendary_Dono
