Story Tellers

Jason Regier

Athlete, Speaker & Entrepreneur

Athlete

 

  • Home: Denver, Colorado

Jason Regier, in his first Paralympic Games, was looking forward to competing on the highest international level. In Team USA’s gold medal run, Regier played a solid role to help his team to the top of the podium. Regier was also a big part of Team USA when they took home the gold medal at the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships.

Regier has been playing rugby for the past 10 years. He was first introduced to the game while in rehab at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo. He began playing after meeting Brad Mikkelson, founder of the Denver Highlanders (now the Denver Harlequins) at a Denver Broncos game. A year after the meeting, Regier tried out for the Highlanders and made the practice squad. After two years on the practice squad, he earned a position on the traveling team.

Regier says playing rugby has been the biggest influence in returning to an active lifestyle and recapturing life after his injury.

Major Achievements:

  • 2010: Gold medal, World Wheelchair Rugby Championships, Vancouver, Canada
  • 2008:  Gold medal, U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Team – Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
  • 2008:  First place – Canada Cup, Burnaby, British Columbia
  • 2008:  Second place – North American Cup, Birmingham, Alabama
  • 2008:  USQRA Athlete of the Year
  • 2007:  Nominated to 2008 U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Team
  • 2007:  U.S. Quad Rugby Association (USQRA) Division I National Championship, Denver Harlequins
  • 2006:  Gold medal - World Wheelchair Rugby Championships, Christchurch, New Zealand
  • 2006:  First place – Canada Cup, Vancouver, British Columbia
  • 2006:  First place – North American Cup, Birmingham, Ala.
  • 2005:  Gold medal – World Wheelchair Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • 2005:  Selected to U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Development Team

Speaker

After being paralyzed, it was through being persistent that Jason was able to regain his life and become a Gold Medal Paralypian.
Sports were a major part of Jason Regier’s life when he was growing up. He had dedicated himself to playing soccer year-round since he was 12 years old and dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player.

On September 22, 1996, his life changed forever. While driving from Colorado to Oregon for his final semester of college, Jason was involved in a car accident and suffered a spinal cord injury. Paralyzed from the neck down, Jason would spend the next three-and-a-half months rehabilitating and rebuilding his life.

As he continued his recovery, Jason discovered Quadriplegic “Quad” Rugby. Although intimidating at first, Jason found peer support and the revival of his competitive spirit in the rough sport. He soon began training full-time. Because of the sport and his teammates, Jason recaptured an active and productive life.

He is very active with the United States Paralympic Committee and Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) speaking on behalf of both groups at every opportunity.

Jason serves as a powerful role model for all young people who face daunting challenges in their lives. His good humor, inspirational attitude and story of a long journey back from injury will give college audiences a special perspective on the power of the human spirit.

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