Ezra Frech

Ezra Frech is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, world record holder, disability rights advocate, and motivational speaker who has contributed significantly to adaptive sports and Paralympic athletics. Born with congenital limb differences, Frech first competed in a track and field meet at age 8, joined Team USA at 14, and participated in the Tokyo Paralympics at 16. Frech was named a finalist for the Sports Illustrated SportsKid of the Year and, inspired by watching the Rio Paralympics, set a goal to compete in Tokyo.

Frech's international career began when he made the U.S. Paralympic Track and Field Team as a teenager, competing in events such as the Junior World Para-Athletics Championships, the Para-Pan American Games, and the World Para-Athletics Championships. At his Paralympic debut in Tokyo, Frech competed in the T63 high jump, finishing fifth. Motivated by this result, he used it as inspiration for future competitions.

Frech went on to win his first world title and broke the world record in the T63 classification at the World Para Athletics Championships, achieving a 1.95-meter high jump. He later claimed his first Paralympic title in the men's T63 100-meter final and set a new Paralympic record in the T63 high jump. Frech's progression from a fifth-place finish to earning two gold medals in a single Paralympic Games highlights his impact on Paralympic track and field.

Off the track, Frech became the first above-the-knee amputee athlete to be recruited to a Division I college program, enrolling at the University of Southern California. He has been nominated for an ESPY, presented an award at the Emmys, appeared on talk shows, and produced an original docuseries. Frech is the executive producer and star of "Adaptive," a documentary series streaming on Peacock, and has competed as a celebrity contestant on "Dancing with the Stars" Season 35.

Frech and his family founded Angel City Sports and the Angel City Games, organizations that provide free sports training for children, veterans, and adults with disabilities in Southern California. As a motivational speaker and disability rights advocate, Frech shares his experiences to promote resilience, inclusivity, and accessibility in sports and society. Frech continues to pursue new goals in Paralympic athletics, including aiming for gold in the high jump, long jump, and 100 meters.