07 LC 21
9087
Senate
Resolution 23
By:
Senator Meyer von Bremen of the 12th
A
RESOLUTION
Commending
Scott Rigsby; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Scott Rigsby was a popular high school athlete, enjoying an active life as a
member of the football team until summer of 1986, when a tractor trailer
collided with the truck that he was riding on, claiming his right leg and badly
mangling his left; and
WHEREAS,
over the next year, he underwent 17 surgeries to reconstruct his "good" leg
which brought him tremendous pain and interfered with the simplest of daily
activities. The doctor said it would be 18 months before he could walk and that
he would never be able to run, but he took up swimming and mountain biking;
and
WHEREAS,
by 1998, he had broken many prostheses with his active lifestyle, but his "good"
leg was always slowing him down, so after having 25 surgeries over the first 12
years after the accident he made the decision to amputate the mangled leg, and
six weeks later he was up and running and has not looked back; and
WHEREAS,
incredibly, he started training in February, and in April he drove to Panama
City, Florida, to participate in a triathlon with a borrowed bike and no
wetsuit. On race day it was raining hard and the water was rough - not a great
race to pick for your first triathlon, but he finished and was addicted from
that point on, participating in six sprints in seven weeks; and
WHEREAS,
Scott is currently the only double amputee in the United States running Olympic
distance triathlons on prosthetics, and on October 1 he became the first
documented double amputee in the world ever to finish a Half-Ironman on
prosthetic legs, placing him well on his way to completing his goal of becoming
the first athlete to complete the full Ironman Triathlon, which combines a 2.4
mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run, while running on two
prosthetic legs; and
WHEREAS, Scott states that part of the reason that he races is to break down the barriers for others who are double amputees and anyone who is physically challenged. He wants to be a trailblazer for double amputees who seek to compete in triathlons and want to use prosthetics; and
WHEREAS, Scott states that part of the reason that he races is to break down the barriers for others who are double amputees and anyone who is physically challenged. He wants to be a trailblazer for double amputees who seek to compete in triathlons and want to use prosthetics; and
WHEREAS,
Scott has touched the lives of many, not only due to the harsh reality of what
happened but because of his unwavering faith and consistently positive attitude
in the face of adversity. Scott has shown intestinal fortitude and courage that
many cannot imagine and has poured himself into helping others, sharing what he
learned on his difficult road to recovery to help others through challenges in
their own lives.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize
and commend Scott Rigsby for his fortitude and determination in the face of
adversity and for his inspiration to others.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Scott Rigsby.