Mario Solis
Freestyle Athlete
A skiing accident couldn’t curtail the freedom
and lifestyle of Mario Solis. Instead, it broadened his horizons,
giving him a second chance to “re-learn life and do it over in
a different way.”
Solis spent his young years as “a kid who did it all,” living
life to the fullest and savoring the action and adventure in everything
he did. That was until a skiing accident tested his courage by leaving
him with a paraplegic body but undaunted spirit.
“Working from ground zero and knowing that everything starts
from a dream, I wasted no time,” relates Mario.
“I exercised daily and searched for
adaptive sporting equipment and activities possible for me. Patiently,
I exercised daily and my strength increased. I also found adaptive
equipment that allowed me to drive a car, restoring my independence.”
By 2004, this multi-talented athlete decided to pursue one of the toughest
athletic events known to any competitor, The Ironman triathlon.
Finishing as the champion of his class in the Falsom International Triathlon and
second in his category in the Buffalo Springs Lake Half Ironman Triathlon, Mario qualified and competed in
the 2005 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
When he is not training or competing, Mario’s passion focuses on raising
awareness of independent living as as active volunteer in the disabled community in California.
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