Matt Blanchard

Matt Blanchard, a motivational and inspirational speaker and founder of Southern Utah Adaptive Sports 501(c)(3), specializes in grit, team building, transforming obstacles into opportunities, and the power of the pivot. Blanchard began speaking at religious events after being injured in 2006, and his message quickly expanded to schools, businesses, colleges, universities, hospitals, and corporations across the United States. He travels nationwide, inspiring others with his story of triumph over physical, mental, and emotional challenges.

After being told he would never walk again, Blanchard dedicated the next 15 years to daily therapy, diligently working to regain his ability to walk. His perseverance paid off when he regained the ability to walk with a single cane.

On Feb. 21, 2021, an impaired driver crossed the median on Interstate 15, resulting in a head-on collision with Blanchard. For the second time, he was trapped in his vehicle and had to be extracted with the jaws of life before being airlifted to receive medical attention. Unfortunately, Blanchard suffered a new spinal cord injury, losing the ability to walk once more.

Blanchard believes that life happens for us, not to us, and that surrounding oneself with the right people, alongside the right attitude and effort, can turn impossible situations into possible ones.