At the age of 14, Mike Schlappi was student body president, had been awarded his Eagle Scout and had expectations of a career in sports as a top American athlete when he was involved in a tragic shooting accident. Doctors told Mike he would never walk again, but after months of rigorous therapy, he began playing basketball from his wheelchair and went on to become an athletic standout.

Mike Schlappi is a four-time Paralympic Medalist and two-time World Champion in Wheelchair basketball. The only wheelchair basketball player in the United States to be on four consecutive summer Paralympic teams, Mike Schlappi was honored by the state of Utah in 2000 as one of its Top 50 athletes of the past century. Mike Schlappi served on the board of trustees that managed the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake. He is the founder and director of the Wheelchair Sports Foundation, a non-profit organization that serves disabled athletes.

Hoping to inspire others through his experiences, Mike Schlappi hung up his sneakers and transitioned from the sports arena to the speaking platform. His engaging presentations have entertained and inspired thousands of audiences worldwide. Mike Schlappi's thought-provoking story challenges individuals to succeed despite difficult circumstances by empowering themselves and accepting personal responsibility.

Off the basketball court, Mike Schlappi graduated with a master's degree in Business Administration and Healthcare from Arizona State University, and on a leadership scholarship, earned an undergraduate degree in Finance from Brigham Young University. Mike Schlappi is also a writer and author of two popular inspirational books which draw heavily on his own experiences and the challenges he's overcome: Bulletproof Principles for Personal Success and Motivational Leaders.

Mike Schlappi has won numerous honors including the American Medical Association's Special People Award, The Sporting Goods Manufacturer of America's Heroes Award and the Golden Key Athlete of the Year Award.