John Register
Since childhood, athletics have been John Register’s passion. He began swimming competitively at the Oak Park, Illinois YMCA, and then moved on to baseball, football and eventually track and field. While attending the University of Arkansas he became a three-time All-American; once in the NCAA long jump and twice on the 4x400m relay teams. Upon completing a bachelor’s degree in communications in 1988, John enlisted in the U. S. Army where he served from 1988 to 1994. A Desert Shield and Desert Storm Veteran, John continued to pursue athletic excellence in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program winning 9 Gold medals in Armed Services Competition In 1988 John qualified for the Olympic trials in the 110m hurdles; he again qualified in the 400m hurdles in 1992. With these accomplishments, John seemed destined to compete as a member of the 1996 Olympic Team. But on May 17, 1994 his life would be forever altered with one misstep over the hurdle. A faulty landing hyper-extended John’s left knee, resulting in an injury severing the popiliteal artery. An attempt to reconstruct the artery using a vein from his right leg failed; within days, gangrene turned the muscle black and amputation was suggested. The alternative was a useless left knee and ankle, which would confine him to a wheelchair. Though devastating, the injury did not stop him. With a strong faith in Christ and the support of his wonderfully supportive wife Alice, he chose amputation. Through the use of a prosthesis, he would walk again – and eventually run. During his long journey to recovery, John began using sport as a conduit to rehabilitation. He began swimming for cardiovascular fitness. It was during the first few swim sessions with his personal coach that an inspiration to compete again was born. After only 18 months of rehabilitation and training, John qualified for and made the 1996 Paralympic Team as a swimmer, competing in the games in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to qualification for the Paralympics, he competed in the finals of the 4x400m-medley relay, swimming the anchor. The Paralympic Games, titled as such because they are held parallel to the Olympics, are a worldwide competition for people with disabilities.
While watching closed-circuit television in the Athlete Village during the 1996 Paralympics, John observed athletes with one leg running on the track. Excited by what he saw, an idea was birthed and after being fitted with a running prosthesis. He set a goal of competing in track and field at the 2000 Paralympic Games, in Sydney, Australia. Not only did John Register begin to run he began to make history. Two years after taking his first running step, he earned the Silver Medal in the long jump at the 2000 Paralympic Games setting the American Long jump record in the process with a distance of 5.41 meters (18.4feet). He also sprinted to 5th place in both the 100 and 200m dashes. John’s life has truly has come full circle in his transformation from All-American long jumper, to Paralympic Silver medalist. As an inspirational and motivational speaker, applying lessons learned through times of testing is the focus of his speaking engagements. His powerful keynote, “Hurdling Adversity”, challenges audiences young and old to unleash the inspiration in them. He is a spokesperson for The Hartford Insurance Company, The American Plastics Council, The Ohio Willow Wood Company, and Disabled Sports USA. He has been featured on numerous national television programs to include PAX TV’s “It’s A Miracle”, with Richard Thomas, FOX’s “The Edge”, with Paula Zahn, NBC’s “Weekend Today Show”, with Sara James, and MSNBC’s “Morning Blend”, with Solidad O’Brian. He has also been profiled several times in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Washington Kid’s Post newspapers.
Subsequent to his 1994 amputation, John Register remained active with soldiers, first as a civilian employee of the Army working as a Sports Specialist with the Army’s World Class Athlete Program. He worked as a Program Specialist with the U. S. Army B.O.S.S. (Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers) Program at the Community and Family Support Center (CFSC) Headquarters. In 2003 he took a job with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and now manages the Paralympic Academy Youth Outreach Program, as well as directs the USOC’s Paralympic Military Programs (a program for service-members who return from conflict with physical disabilities.
Read about him on https://johnregister.com/about/
John Register appears in
Imagine being on the path of qualifying for the 1996 US Olympic Track and Field Team as a hurdler after becoming a 3-time All-American at the University of Arkansas to suffering a devastating injury that would lead to the loss of your leg.
Today we will share positive vibes from a Paralympic Champion, race into London 2012 with a remarkable person and special athlete, and “Hurdle Adversity” with a leading Paralympic Advocate, athlete and motivational speaker. Meet Tony Volpentest, a Paralympian with an inspiring story.