Roderick Sewell was an active kid. Born without tibias in both of his legs Roderick wrestled with his cousins and climbed every surface of his grandmother's home. When he was two years old his mother, Marian, made the incredibly tough choice to have his legs amputated to save his life. That didn't stop Roderick, a rambunctious toddler who could hardly sit still while his body healed.
But when his mother's modest income couldn't cover Roderick's prosthetics, she made another impossible decision: to leave her demanding job working for the US Navy and go on unemployment. That way California Children's Services would pay for Roderick's prosthetics that would enable him to walk. Roderick and his mother were left homeless and moved from California to Alabama. All the while she instilled in him the lessons of gratitude, love, and patience that aided him as he built confidence in his disability and pursued his passion: sports.
Roderick was still homeless in Alabama when he met coaches from the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which helps athletes with disabilities. They gave him his running legs, and his life quickly changed for the better. He learned how to swim, how to challenge his body, and how to be a fierce competitor and athlete-all with him mom cheering from the sidelines.
Iron Will is the story of an athlete with an indomitable spirit and proof that an athlete's mindset is about more than physical and mental endurance. It's about enduring love, support, and the willingness to try.
Roderick Sewell is a Paralympic athlete and motivational speaker. He is a swimmer representing Team USA, a member of the US Paralympic Swim Team, and an Ambassador for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. In 2019, he became the first bilateral above-the-knee amputee to complete the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. He holds a bachelor's degree from University of Northern Alabama, and is mentor and coach at his local YMCA.
"Roderick Sewell II--Paralympic athlete and Iron Man champion, motivational speaker, and disability advocate--shares his resilience and joy in his impactful memoir. Sewell's performance exudes calm strength as he talks about the myriad challenges he and his mother faced during his childhood in San Diego and Alabama in the 1990s. Their difficulties included struggling to afford the prosthetic legs he needed as a double above-the-knee amputee, as well as experiencing frequent housing insecurity. He also expresses appreciation for the support he received and the empowerment he learned from extended family and sports mentors as he charted his path to adulthood. Sewell shares valuable lessons with listeners, including the importance of getting out of your own way and not allowing others to define your success. J.R.T. � AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine"
