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Adapting: A Q&A with Double Amputee Brian Reynolds
By Jenni Guynn
Meet Brian Reynolds, the double-amputee athlete setting world records for running. We sat down to talk about life in the adaptive community, running, and what record he plans to break next.
R: You contracted Meningococcemia (a rare form of meningitis) at age four, causing you to have to amputate both legs. What was it like dealing with such a big life change at such an early age?
B: I have always said that if it had to happen, being young is the best way. I hardly remember life with legs so it made the transition far easier than it is for people who are amputated later in life. Seeing as I was only four, many of my hospital and recovery memories are hazy. Despite prosthetics not being nearly as advanced in the early 1990s, it never stopped me from leading a normal life. I was also lucky to be in a school where all the children knew me both before and after I was sick so they never really questioned me or bothered me about my legs.
R: How has the world of prosthesis/ the adaptive community changed since you were a kid?
B: The prosthetic world has changed drastically in the past 25 years. My first set of legs though little and adorable looking did not give me much in the way of technological advancement. They were heavy and clunky. My legs now are much sleeker and lighter. Made of carbon fiber and titanium, the components are all made specially to help me walk and move more efficiently. The foot that I am currently using on my walking prosthetics is designed to give me a slight spring which helps compensate for the ankle motion and muscles that I am missing.
I think some of the biggest changes are in the adaptive community. In the 1990s it was harder to find information about opportunities for challenged athletes. I grew up not knowing any other amputees or the possibilities in the world of prosthetics. With the help of the internet, adaptive athletes are able to connect and share information with each other far easier. Advancement in prosthetics also paved the way for amputees to compete in sports with greater ease. Despite these advancements, it is still difficult to obtain the necessary components. Unless an amputee is independently wealthy, they often need to apply for grants to get parts meant…
