Monika Johnson
McKayla Hanson's story is one of perseverance in the face ofadversity, ingenuity to solve difficult problems, and an unbeatably positiveattitude. After undergoing threeamputations resulting in a hemipelvectomy at age seven, which removed her hipand part of her pelvic bone, doctors said she would never be able to run orbike, or possibly even walk.
\I proved the doctors wrong," she said.
Today, Hanson is a champion rock climber and training for herfirst half Iron Man triathlon, in which she will compete in October 2011 in SanDiego. Though participating in the competition is years in the making, Hanson'shistory of athletic success is the result of much more than the averageathlete's practice.
Hanson was in foster care until she was adopted by herparents at age seven. Because of the instability of the system, bone cancer inher leg went unnoticed until her adoptive mother realized something was wrong."Just a bump in the car would hurt-I couldn't go anywhere," Hanson said. Aftergetting medical attention, it was evident that she would need full amputationto heal, the first of which occurred in October 1994.
Although the procedures were excruciating, Hanson creditsher mother with her ability to seek positive results. "She saw I would have afuture someday. My mom said, ‘You can lie in your bed and feel sorry foryourself or go out and do something.' I've been going ever since!" Hanson said.
Hanson's journey to athletic stardom has not been an easyone. Initially, she said, she questioned whether she could compete due to herdisability. However, "I didn't want to turn myself down by giving up. I toldmyself I'd do my best," she said.
Hitting the ground with enthusiasm, she joined her high schoolswim team and began rock climbing at age 19. She references the Athletes withDisabilities Network motto in her reason for persevering, stating, "There is noreplacement for the competitive spirit!"
In her first year of competitive rock climbing in 2008, shetook third place in the Extremity Games, an organized event for BMX,wakeboarding, climbing, and other extreme sports. The next year, she tookfirst, scaling a complicated route on an average 35 foot rock wall in less thanfour hours as her mother watched proudly. "I can depend on my upper bodystrength in climbing," she said.
This October, Hanson will compete in the San Diego TriathlonChallenge, sponsored by the Challenged Athletes Foundation. The competitionentails a 1.2 mile swim, a 13.1 mile run, and a 56 mile bike ride, which Hansonwill complete by substituting the running with a hand cycle.
"I want to do thewhole thing- it's so exciting. With the triathlon, it doesn't matter if youhave a disability. It's difficult, but you can still do it," she said.
The Challenged Athletes Foundation has been a long-timesupporter of Hanson's pursuits, having provided grants for a new prosthetic legand a bike that fits her requirements, also including money for training and travel to therace. "I said, ‘What if I don't finish?' They told me that even if it takes meall day the route is open!" Hanson said.
Though Hanson's hard work makes a triathlon route look easy,it hasn't been an easy road to get to where she is today. "I can motivatemyself on days when I feel like my clothes don't fit or I can't put my shoe onby looking at other athletes. They show me I can persevere," Hanson said.
Hanson will graduate next spring with a degree inKinesiology and has already begun the process of applying to graduate schoolsto become a physical therapist. Her choice of entering a career in which shecould contribute to others' quality of life was a logical one, she says: "I wanted to find what I was good at, and Iknew I wanted to help people. I want to help people because so many have helpedme."
After a college career filled with overcoming obstacles toreach the highest success, Hanson still credits her parents and 15-personfamily with her ability to reach her goals. "My parents are so supportive ofanything and everything. I feel like I'd be missing something without them,"she said.