Failing Forward: Resilience, Bouncing Back, and Pushing Further
U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team EZRA FRECH became the youngest competitor on team U.S.A. by age 14, often medaling at international events. Heartbreakingly, he failed to podium at Tokyo. While he made the Finals, he didn’t achieve his childhood dream in Tokyo, and this setback happened on the world stage. However, Frech did not give up and quickly bounced back, redoubling his training efforts to look forward to Paris in 2024. As a sought-after keynote speaker, Frech leaves a lasting impact on audiences by sharing invaluable lessons on resilience, grit, and the importance of embracing your unique journey with authenticity and courage.
Goal Manifestation: Making Your Biggest Dreams Come True
Youngest member of the U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team EZRA FRECH decided he wanted to compete at the Paralympics when he was just 11 years old. By 16, through tireless effort, training, and dedication, he made it to the Tokyo Paralympic Games, kicking off a wildly successful career not only as a track athlete but also a global disability advocate. Frech’s engaging storytelling and unwavering optimism inspire listeners to break barriers, pursue their dreams, and embrace resilience in the face of adversity.
Embracing Differences: Championing Disability and Diversity
U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team EZRA FRECH has dedicated much of his life to giving back to the disability community. Whether by co-founding of Angel City Sports, walking the runway at Milan Fashion Week, or simply sharing his story national media outlets, Frech is the definition of a role model, educating the public on disability, inclusion, and acceptance. With authenticity and conviction, Frech’s speeches challenge listeners to embrace differences as opportunities for growth, instilling a sense of empowerment and possibility in every attendee.
Ezra Frech wins Paralympic Gold Medal
EZRA FRECH, the youngest member of the U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team, planned to run the 100 meters as a warm-up for the high jump but instead won a gold medal in one of the closest races of the Games. Frech arrived in Paris already holding a high jump world record, and, after winning a surprise gold in the 100-meter race, told The Wall Street Journal, “I’m quite shocked. I’m still taking it in right now…I was treating this as a warm-up for high jump, to get the blood flowing and have a good race.”
Frech inspires audiences worldwide with his perspective on adaptability, goal-setting, and the power of a positive mindset.
Watch Ezra Frech speak at the Duke Fuqua School of Business >>
What powers internationally acclaimed athlete Ezra Frech to jump higher?
U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team star EZRA FRECH began competing on the international stage at only 14, the youngest competitor in his cohort. At age 11, Frech watched his mentor, Sam Grewe, win a silver medal for high jump at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics. Seeing another above-the-knee amputee on the podium gave Frech an epiphany. He turned to his mother and said, “I want to go to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.” Not only did Frech make it to Tokyo, but he also placed eighth in the long jump and fifth in the high jump when he was just 16 years old.
Frech is a lifelong athlete, breaking national youth records at the Endeavor Games at age 8. He is now the first above-the-knee amputee to commit to a Division-I track and field program by choosing to attend USC. Frech told USC Annenberg, “I hope to, as an above-the-knee amputee, perform for this amazing track program and change perceptions.”
Watch Ezra Frech in conversation with the Duke Fuqua School of Business >>
Ezra Frech has more professional keynote experience than most c-suite executives
Since he was 4 years old, EZRA FRECH has been a sought-after motivational speaker at schools, hospitals, companies, and leadership conferences, bringing his message that “Being Different is OK.” He has spoken to schools and global corporations alike. Beyond his public appearances and televised competitions, Ezra works as the Founder of Angel City Sports to build a more inclusive world.
Watch Ezra Frech in conversation with the One Revolution Blog >>
U.S. track & field star Ezra Frech shares his perspective on the importance of the Paralympic Games
U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team boy wonder EZRA FRECH joined NBC to give a much-needed Paralympics 101 overview. On national news, Frech detailed his goal to normalize disability through his advocacy, explaining the role of the Paralympics Games in this social advancement. Frech told listeners, sharing, “Winning medals is great, breaking world records is fun. I don't believe that's what I was put here to do. I believe I was put here to use sport, track & field, and the Paralympics as a vehicle to normalize disability on a global scale.”
Watch Ezra Frech in conversation with the Duke Fuqua School of Business >>
Watch Ezra Frech on NBC News >>
Ezra Frech was born with congenital limb differences, missing his left knee and left shin bone, and with only one finger on his left hand. Now 17 years-old, Ezra has used a prosthetic leg since he was 11 months and a running blade since he was 4 years old. Ezra had surgeries when he was 2 years old to transplant a toe to his hand and allow for improved fitting of prosthesis.
Ezra is an accomplished athlete and a sought-after motivational speaker. He holds dozens of junior national track and field records and was the starting QB and point guard for his football and basketball teams. In the fall of 2014, Ezra was honored to be named as a finalist for the 2014 Sports Illustrated "SportsKid of the Year."
In 2016 Ezra, as an 11 year-old, was watching his friends and mentors compete on the world’s stage at the Rio Paralympic Games, Ezra told his mother, “I want to go to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games” and he immediately started training. Fast forward to June 2019 when Ezra made the US Paralympic Track and Field Team as a 14 year-old and competed in three international events, including the Junior World Para-Athletics Championships, where he won three medals, the Para-Pan American Games where he won two silver medals, and the World Para-Athletics Championships, where he placed in the top 8 in all three of his events and was the youngest athlete out of 1,400 competitors.
Ezra continued to train through the pandemic, resorting to park, beach, and back-yard workouts for months on end. Finally getting back on the track in January 2021 at his school, Brentwood, Ezra began a regimented training program, all the while being a full-time 10th grader. Through the spring of 2021, Ezra competed against able-bodied athletes for his high school track team, ultimately earning a 2nd place in CIF Finals. More importantly, he performed well at U.S. Paralympic Track and Field Trials, where he become the T63 National Champion in the 100M and Long Jump, set an Americas record in the long jump, and punched his ticket to Tokyo in the high jump by hitting the A Standard of 1.8 meters. Ezra competed in the T63 Long Jump (making the finals and earning 8th place) and the T63 High Jump (placing 5th) at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Ezra has been featured on dozens of radio and network television shows, including the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Good Morning America, sharing his story and raising awareness and understanding for the physically challenged. Since he was 4 years old, Ezra has done motivational speaking at schools, hospitals, companies, and leadership conferences, bringing his message that “Being Different is OK.” Ezra’s motto is “You can Dream it, You can Hope for it, or You can Make It Happen.” and he believes you should “Focus on What You Have Versus What You Don’t Have.”
Ezra is the inspiration behind and co-founder of Angel City Sports, a high-growth, high-impact non-profit organization dedicated to providing the joy of sports to children and adults with physical disabilities. Over the years, Team Ezra has also supported a number of other charitable organizations, such as the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Shriners Hospital for Children, Mobility Outreach International, Camp No Limits, and Free the Children (aka We Day).
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