Sam Kavanagh
Sport: Cycling
Residence: Bozeman, MT
Sam Kavanagh was born and raised in Montana and loves the outdoors. However, life changed suddenly for Kavanagh on January 1, 2005 while on a backcountry ski trip with five of his best friends. On the second to last day of their trip Kavanagh and two friends were caught in an avalanche that would ultimately claim the life of his friend. It would result in having his leg amputated 13 days later as a result due to injuries sustained in the slide and complications from spending 48 hours in the field prior to helicopter rescue.
Since having his leg amputated five years ago, Kavanagh has been determined to be the best that he can be, not only in competition, but out of competition as well. Shortly after his accident, he returned to his full time job as a Professional Civil Engineer. However, now he trains full-time and his goal is to win Gold at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, England.
Kavanagh is driven like never before to accomplish goals he would have once considered too difficult as a non-amputee. We all are given hardships in life that challenge us beyond our imagination. Kavanagh’s challenge just happens to be losing a leg. He has chosen to live his life as an amputee not on the sidelines, but rather charging forward committed to pushing his abilities to new levels.
Career Highlights
- 2010: 1st Place C4-5 Road Race Championship, 1st Place Para-cycling Criterium Championship, 3rd Place Para-cycling Time Trial Championship- USA Cycling National Championships, Bend, OR
- 2010: 1st Place Team Sprint Championship, 3rd Place 1-km time trial, 3rd Place 4-km individual pursuit- Paracycling Track Nationals, Colorado Springs, CO
- 2010: 6th Place time trial-C4, 12th Place road race-C5/C4- UCI Road World Championships Baie- Comeau, QC
- 2010: 1st Place stage 2 time trial, 2nd Place stage 3 crit race, 1st Place stage 4 circuit race, 1st Overall in Final Standings- Challenge International Stage Race, Bayonne, FR
- 2010: 2nd Place stage I time trial, 1st Place stage 2 time trial, 2nd Overall in Final Standings- Paracycling Bizkaiko Biro-Stage Race, Bilboa, ESP
- 2009: 5th Place 1-Kilometer time trial, 5th Place 4 km individual pursuit, 4th Place team sprint- IPC World Championships, Manchester, UK
- 2008: 1st Place 4 km individual pursuit
- 2009 National Champion, 2nd Place 1 km time trial, 5th Place individual road time trial. Named first Alternate to the 2008 United State Beijing Paralympic Cycling delegation; Overall highest ranked male cyclist at 2008 Paralympic National Championships- US Paralympic National, Colorado Springs, CO
Kavanagh works closely with The Hartford, Founding Partner of U.S. Paralympics®, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, helping to positively change public attitudes and perceptions about disability. To learn more about Kavanagh, visit his website:
http://nolimbitations.com/Blog
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