At age five, having already undergone 15 surgeries, Rudy had to choose between life in a wheelchair and walking with artificial limbs. He opted for greater mobility and a full, active life with prosthetics, which necessitated the surgical amputation of both his legs through the knee. Undaunted, he began swimming, then running. Having won his first gold medal at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, Rudy was also the first bilateral above-knee amputee to finish the Ironman Triathlon.

He currently uses Össur’s Re-Flex Shock and Sport Liners with Pin System on a daily basis, and Össur’s Flex-Run and Cheetah Xtend for sports and recreational activities, including skateboarding, surfing, hiking, fishing, and golfing. Rudy says Össur has given him the opportunity to live without limitations and he hopes to encourage other amputees to live active lifestyles regardless of the challenges, saying, “A brave heart is a powerful weapon, and people should never let their challenges define who they are.”

Athletic Achievements

• Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games - 7th in 200m IM, 6th 100m breaststroke, 8th 4x100m Freestyle Relay 34 points