Ironman Paratriathlete & Former Paralympic Track Athlete Who Lost Her Leg Due to A Congenital Defect
Sarah Reinertsen Biography
Sarah Reinertsen is a Paralympic triathlete and former track athlete who gained prominence after making sports history in the Hawaii Ironman. This legendary race starts with a 2.4-mile swim, continues with a 112-mile bike, and culminates with a 26.2-mile run, all in a single day. On October 15, 2005, Reinertsen completed the Ironman World Championships in Kona in a time of 15 hours and 5 minutes, becoming the first woman to finish an Ironman on a prosthetic leg. Born with proximal femoral focal deficiency, a bone-growth disorder, Reinertsen's affected leg was amputated above the knee at the age of seven. She broke the 100m world record for female above-knee amputees at the age of 13, and was a member of the US Disabled Track Team for 7 years, participating in the 1992 Summer Paralympics. In addition to her Ironman achievement, she also competed in "The Amazing Race," the Emmy-award-winning CBS reality TV series, where she was eliminated in 7th place.
Reinertsen's journey has been covered extensively in national newspapers and she has been featured on the covers of many magazines, such as Runner's World, Triathlete, Max Sports & Fitness, and Competitor. In 2009, she released a memoir, "In a Single Bound: Losing My Leg, Finding Myself and Training for Life," published by GPP Life. The book provides an honest, touching, and humorous account of her life as a feisty, one-legged girl striving to fit in with her two-legged friends, who grows up to become a world-class athlete and TV personality.
Reinertsen continues to race in triathlons and road races around the world and is a current member of the USAT National Paratriathlon team. She is a 3-time world champion in the ITU short course triathlon and won the Ironman 70.3 world championships in 2006. Her marathon runs include events in NYC, LA, Millennium New Zealand, London, and Boston. Throughout her career, she has broken the women's above-knee amputee marathon record several times. Her dedication to sports has earned her several honors and awards, including the US Olympic Committee Best Female Athlete with a Disability in 1991 and the ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete with a Disability in 2006.
Off the track, Reinertsen serves as a spokesperson for both Össur, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of prosthetic equipment, and the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), a non-profit that supports athletes with disabilities. She utilizes her experiences to mentor and inspire other athletes through a variety of Össur and CAF events, including hands-on sports workshops around the country that teach amputees how to run, spin, bike, and swim. Reinertsen is a dedicated motivational speaker, sharing her impactful story with audiences at multinational companies. In addition to her sports career and philanthropic endeavors, she has also been featured in Lincoln car ads and served as a captain for Team Refuel.
Reinertsen holds a BA in Communication and International Affairs from The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, and an MA in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California. She currently lives and trains in California.
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Sarah Reinertsen Videos
Meet Amputee Triathlete, Sarah Reinertsen
Talk about an inspiring story. The Ironman Triathlete, paralympian and past Amazing Race competitor shares her story
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What are the speaker fees for Sarah Reinertsen
Speaking fees for Sarah Reinertsen, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Sarah Reinertsen are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Sarah Reinertsen, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Sarah Reinertsen speak about?
Sarah Reinertsen is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Athlete, College, Disability, Empowerment, Extreme Sports, Female Leadership, Health & Wellness, Influential Women, Inspirational, Leadership, Motivational, Personal Growth, Social Media, Sports, Sports Motivation, TED, Women, Women's Empowerment, Women's Health -
Where does Sarah Reinertsen travel from?
Sarah Reinertsen generally travels from Orange County, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
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Sarah Reinertsen is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Sarah Reinertsen for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Sarah Reinertsen generally travels from Orange County, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Amy Purdy, Venus Williams, Allyson Felix, Dominique Dawes and Serena Williams. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Sarah Reinertsen for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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