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“I try not to let the accident define me, but rather the actions that I took after that define who I am.”
This week, on the MidPacker Pod Troy Meadows welcomes Jeff Waldmuller, a true multi-hyphenate — musician, prosthetist, para-athlete, and relentless endurance junkie.
Jeff’s story starts with music. He toured the world as a trumpet player, even performing with Emmy and Tony award-winning shows. But after a devastating motorcycle accident nearly cost him his arm and leg, Jeff made a bold decision to amputate below the knee and rewrite his story. That choice opened the door to running, triathlons, and ultra-endurance racing
He transitioned from the stage to the start line, racing sprint triathlons to full Ironman, grinding through marathons and ultras, and ultimately setting his sights on the Leadville 100.
At Leadville, Jeff has faced brutal setbacks: crashes, broken bones, missed cutoffs — yet he always comes back, fueled by the mantra: “I commit, I won’t quit.”
Beyond racing, Jeff’s day job as a prosthetist with Ottobock has taken him to the Tokyo and Paris Paralympic Games, where he provided free repairs and equipment for athletes competing on the world stage.
His advocacy stretches further with organizations like Challenge Athletes Foundation, Limbs for Life Foundation, Team Catapult, and Full Circle Movement, where he helps create access, mentorship, and mobility for adaptive athletes.
Jeff’s journey is about resilience, creativity, and proving that identity isn’t defined by what happens to you — but by what you choose to do next.
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Jeff Waldmuller, prosthetist, para-athlete, Challenge Athletes Foundation, Ottobock, Paralympics, Leadville 100, ultrarunning, adaptive sports, endurance
