Upload File

the herald - adaptive athlete inspires others nationwide

  • Home
  • Documents
  • The Herald - Adaptive Athlete Inspires Others Nationwide
1
By JULIE MANSMANN [email protected] Merrick native Steph Hammerman devel- oped cerebral palsy shortly after she was born 23 years ago. But the accomplished ath- lete and motivational speaker said she doesn’t struggle with anything. “People have this misconception that just because we are individuals who have to adapt to different circumstances that we automatically suffer from something,” she said of adaptive athletes. “I hope that through my actions, and also my words, I can show other people that anything is possible if you believe in the impossible.” Hammerman noted that she gets ready and goes to work just like anyone else. According to her employer –– CrossFit, Inc. –– Hammerman is the first woman with cere- bral palsy to become a fitness trainer at the company. Her achievements within the CrossFit community and in health and well- ness have garnered national attention, as she has been featured on television, and she is now being booked for public-speaking engagements. Hammerman, who graduated from Ken- nedy High School in Bellmore in 2008, said living a healthy life became extremely impor - tant to her after the loss of one of her best friends, Scott Pollock. Pollock, who died in December 2005, was born without arms. However, Hammerman explained that noth- ing kept him off the basketball court. Using his feet to play basketball, Ham- merman said Pollock remained active throughout his life while advocating for other adaptive athletes. Now Hammerman said she wants to make a difference for oth- ers like he did. “I told his family I wanted to continue his legacy,” she said. “It was a rough time, but he’ll forever be my inspiration and driving force to move forward.” Hammerman began going to the gym sev- eral times a week. While attending Lynn Uni- versity in Boca Raton, Fla., she began work- ing with a personal trainer. Frank Manusky helped Hammerman prepare for her first marathon. On Dec. 4, 2011, Hammerman completed the 26.2-mile Palm Beach Marathon using a hand cycle. Robin Canarick, Hammerman’s mother, said her family flew down to Florida to watch her cross the finish line. “She had a football team on the sideline rooting for her,” she said. “She has always had the support of her entire family. My ex- husband and I gave her every tool possible. We gave her her wings to fly.” Although she said it was an exhilarating experience, Hammerman knew she could improve upon her finishing time of 4:34:14. She said this prompted her to walk into a CrossFit box (gym) for the first time on May 3, 2012. Hammerman began working with Scott Lefferts, owner of CrossFit Hard Core Boca Raton. Lefferts had never worked with an adaptive athlete before meeting Hammer- man, but he worked with her so she could complete the various segments of the strength and conditioning program. “Little by little we worked together to adapt all of these movements that someone else was doing. If someone was lifting a bar over their head, I wanted to be able to do that,” Hammerman said. “It was very frus- trating during the first few months, but this is a community where everybody can be doing the same workout, whether it is scaled or done as prescribed. At the end of the workout, everyone feels exactly the same way – completely exhausted but very accom- plished.” As she began to see changes in her own body and workouts became more routine, Hammerman said she realized she also want- ed to help others realize what they were capa- ble of physically. This led her to pursue becoming certified as a CrossFit trainer on June 7, 2013. Hammerman is now a trainer at CrossFit Conquest in Davie, Fla, working with up to 20 athletes in a class each day. She said she con- tinued to learn and grow as a coach and an athlete, and that CrossFit is a place that will always be a part of her life, as long as the company is around. Canarick said she had never heard of Crossfit before Hammerman got involved with it, but now she says joining the commu- nity was one of the best things to happen to her daughter. Local athletes in the communi- ty have also welcomed Hammerman, she said, noting that trainers at the Bedford Ave- nue CrossFit had her come in and teach a class. “Here, I watched my daughter, who [couldn’t] jump rope, teach able-bodied indi- viduals how to do a double jump,” she said. “She knows how to tell the body what to do. I was amazed.” Hammerman appeared on a “Good Stuff ” segment on CNN in July 2013. The story has since been nominated as one of the top 10 stories of the year in the series. The poll is still open on newday.blogs.cnn.com. Canarick said it was phenomenal that her daughter’s story touched people nationwide, adding that her daughter will continue to inspire others as a motivational speaker. Her first speaking showcase is on Feb. 17 at the National Association for Campus Activities’ national convention in Boston, Mass. Hammerman said she is excited to be able to express herself in the way she wants at the convention. “I truly believe I have a pow- erful voice for a reason,” she said. “If I only change one person’s life out of 1,000, I have pretty much done my job.” Hammerman is also currently pursuing a master’s degree in college student affairs at Nova Southeastern University, noting that her time at Lynn as an undergraduate was important to her. As a sophomore at the col- lege in 2009, she founded the Disability Awareness Initiative, comprising eight events aimed at teaching able-bodied stu- dents about the daily challenges that stu- dents with disabilities face. It has since expanded to Florida Atlantic University. An avid user of social media, Hammer- man can be found on Instagram and Twitter @iAdaptFitness. Canarick said her daughter is an excellent communicator across plat- forms, and that she is proud of all she has done and will continue to do working with others. “I only hope that she continues to be happy, be healthy and just has all of her wishes come true, and that she truly has a positive effect on other people’s lives,” she said. “She is very headstrong. When she puts her mind to some- thing, there is no stopping her.” Adaptive athlete inspires others nationwide Photos courtesy Steph Hammerman STEPH HAMMERMAN STEPPED into her first CrossFit box, or gym, on May 3, 2012. HAMMERMAN IS THE first woman with cerebral palsy to become a fitness trainer at CrossFit , Inc.

Upload: greater-talent-network

Post on 25-Mar-2016

212 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

Report

Tags:

DESCRIPTION

The Herald - Adaptive Athlete Inspires Others Nationwide. Stephanie Hammerman, GTN Exclusive. Speakers Bureau

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: The Herald - Adaptive Athlete Inspires Others Nationwide

By Julie MansMann [email protected]

MerricknativeStephHammermandevel-oped cerebral palsy shortly after she wasborn23yearsago.Buttheaccomplishedath-lete and motivational speaker said shedoesn’tstrugglewithanything. “Peoplehavethismisconceptionthatjustbecause we are individuals who have toadapt to different circumstances that weautomaticallysuffer fromsomething,”shesaid of adaptive athletes. “I hope thatthroughmyactions,andalsomywords,Icanshowotherpeoplethatanythingispossibleif youbelieveintheimpossible.” Hammermannoted thatshegetsreadyand goes to work just like anyone else.Accordingtoheremployer––CrossFit,Inc.––Hammermanisthefirstwomanwithcere-bralpalsytobecomeafitnesstraineratthecompany. Her achievements within theCrossFitcommunityandinhealthandwell-nesshavegarnerednationalattention,asshehasbeenfeaturedontelevision,andsheisnow being booked for public-speakingengagements. Hammerman,whograduatedfromKen-nedyHighSchoolinBellmorein2008,saidlivingahealthylifebecameextremelyimpor-tanttoherafterthelossof oneof herbestfriends,ScottPollock.Pollock,whodiedinDecember 2005, was born without arms.However,Hammermanexplainedthatnoth-ingkepthimoff thebasketballcourt. Usinghis feet toplaybasketball,Ham-merman said Pollock remained active

throughout his life while advocating forotheradaptiveathletes.NowHammermansaidshewantstomakeadifferenceforoth-erslikehedid. “ItoldhisfamilyIwantedtocontinuehislegacy,”shesaid.“Itwasaroughtime,buthe’ll foreverbemyinspirationanddrivingforcetomoveforward.” Hammermanbegangoingtothegymsev-eraltimesaweek.WhileattendingLynnUni-versityinBocaRaton,Fla.,shebeganwork-ingwithapersonaltrainer.FrankManuskyhelped Hammerman prepare for her firstmarathon. OnDec.4,2011,Hammermancompletedthe26.2-milePalmBeachMarathonusingahandcycle.RobinCanarick,Hammerman’smother,saidherfamilyflewdowntoFloridatowatchhercrossthefinishline. “Shehadafootball teamonthesidelinerooting forher,”shesaid.“Shehasalwayshadthesupportof herentirefamily.Myex-husbandandIgavehereverytoolpossible.Wegaveherherwingstofly.” Althoughshesaiditwasanexhilaratingexperience, Hammerman knew she couldimproveuponherfinishingtimeof 4:34:14.Shesaid thispromptedher towalk intoaCrossFitbox(gym)forthefirsttimeonMay3,2012. HammermanbeganworkingwithScottLefferts,ownerof CrossFitHardCoreBocaRaton.Leffertshadneverworkedwithanadaptive athlete before meeting Hammer-man,butheworkedwithhersoshecouldcomplete the various segments of thestrengthandconditioningprogram.

“Little by little we worked together toadaptallof thesemovementsthatsomeoneelsewasdoing.If someonewasliftingabarover theirhead, Iwanted tobeable todothat,”Hammermansaid.“Itwasveryfrus-tratingduringthefirstfewmonths,butthisis a community where everybody can bedoingthesameworkout,whetheritisscaledor done as prescribed. At the end of theworkout,everyonefeelsexactlythesameway– completely exhausted but very accom-plished.” Asshebegantoseechangesinherownbody and workouts became more routine,Hammermansaidsherealizedshealsowant-edtohelpothersrealizewhattheywerecapa-ble of physically. This led her to pursuebecomingcertifiedasaCrossFittraineronJune7,2013. HammermanisnowatraineratCrossFitConquestinDavie,Fla,workingwithupto20athletesinaclasseachday.Shesaidshecon-tinuedtolearnandgrowasacoachandanathlete,andthatCrossFitisaplacethatwillalwaysbeapartof her life,as longas thecompanyisaround. Canarick said she had never heard of Crossfit before Hammerman got involvedwithit,butnowshesaysjoiningthecommu-nitywasoneof thebestthingstohappentoherdaughter.Localathletesinthecommuni-ty have also welcomed Hammerman, shesaid,notingthattrainersattheBedfordAve-nueCrossFithadhercomeinandteachaclass. “Here, I watched my daughter, who[couldn’t] jumprope,teachable-bodiedindi-vidualshowtodoadoublejump,”shesaid.“Sheknowshowtotellthebodywhattodo.Iwasamazed.” Hammermanappearedona“GoodStuff”

segmentonCNNinJuly2013.Thestoryhassincebeennominatedasoneof the top10storiesof theyearintheseries.Thepollisstillopenonnewday.blogs.cnn.com. Canaricksaiditwasphenomenalthatherdaughter’sstorytouchedpeoplenationwide,adding thatherdaughterwillcontinue toinspireothersasamotivationalspeaker.HerfirstspeakingshowcaseisonFeb.17attheNationalAssociationforCampusActivities’nationalconventioninBoston,Mass. Hammermansaidsheisexcitedtobeabletoexpressherself inthewayshewants attheconvention.“ItrulybelieveIhaveapow-erfulvoiceforareason,”shesaid.“If Ionlychangeoneperson’slifeoutof 1,000,Ihaveprettymuchdonemyjob.” Hammermanisalsocurrentlypursuingamaster’sdegreeincollegestudentaffairsatNovaSoutheasternUniversity,noting thathertimeatLynnasanundergraduatewasimportanttoher.Asasophomoreatthecol-lege in 2009, she founded the DisabilityAwareness Initiative, comprising eightevents aimed at teaching able-bodied stu-dents about the daily challenges that stu-dents with disabilities face. It has sinceexpandedtoFloridaAtlanticUniversity. Anaviduserof socialmedia,Hammer-mancanbefoundonInstagramandTwitter@iAdaptFitness.Canaricksaidherdaughterisanexcellentcommunicatoracrossplat-forms,andthatsheisproudof allshehasdoneandwillcontinuetodoworkingwithothers. “Ionlyhopethatshecontinuestobehappy,behealthyandjusthasallof herwishescometrue,andthatshetrulyhasapositiveeffectonotherpeople’s lives,”shesaid.“Sheisveryheadstrong.Whensheputshermindtosome-thing,thereisnostoppingher.”

Adaptive athlete inspires others nationwide

Photos courtesy Steph Hammerman

steph haMMerMan stepped into her first CrossFit box, or gym, on May 3, 2012.

haMMerMan is the first woman with cerebral palsy to become a fitness trainer at CrossFit , Inc.

COLOR INSPIRES

Ionian Inspires Cricket 2009

What inspires you, inspires us. Let s talk. | eidebailly.com CCCTA … · 2019-12-09 · What inspires you, inspires us. Let s talk. | eidebailly.com 5441 Kietzke Ln., Ste. 150 |

A Life that Inspires

Who inspires me?

THE COACH-ATHLETE RELATIONSHIP AND ATHLETE …

E.Q.: What inspires me?

How Planning Inspires Greatness

[Amnesty] Who inspires you?

TSAC Report | Issue 44 - National Strength and Conditioning …€¦ ·  · 2017-01-03TACTICAL ATHLETE—PART 2 KEITH CHITTENDEN, MS, CSCS,*D, ... Nationwide and the Nationwide N

Park inspires colourful exhibition

PUBLIC MEDIA THAT INSPIRES

Basque Country - Inspires you

Art that Inspires me

Stuff that inspires me

ATHLETE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (AAP) ATHLETE …...VAN01: 4907489: v7 ATHLETICS CANADA AAP ATHLETE AGREEMENT 4 “Athlete Director(s)” means the athlete or athletes elected to act as

Art that Inspires

KMC INSPIRES | SUMMER 2021

HI Magazine - Heyhouses Inspires

Entrepreneur who inspires

Ionian Inspires Cricket 2010

ILLUMINATION THAT INSPIRES - lsin.panasonic.com · Panasonic LED Panasonic LEDs Panasonic LED- Illumination that inspires the best in you. Light inspires a wide range of emotions

What Inspires me?

Intriducing HEXACON inspires Poetry

What inspires you???

Inspires Me

JAPANESE DELEGATION Handbook - JOC...Sena TOMITA Athlete (Female) Tomoka TAKEUCHI Athlete (Female) Miyabi ONITSUKA Athlete (Female) Haruna MATSUMOTO Athlete (Female) Hikaru OE Athlete

Ionian inspires australians

Aspiration inspires motivation

Stuff That Inspires Me

ATHLETE BIB ATHLETE BIB ATHLETE ELSHADDAI SPORTS GA

Who inspires me

NYC inspires

Hitachi Inspires IPv6 Deployment

INSPIRES ESSENTIALS