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Runner With Cerebral Palsy Makes History After Signing With Nike

Runner With Cerebral Palsy Makes History After Signing With Nike

He is the first professional athlete with cerebral palsy to be signed up by Nike

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A runner with cerebral palsy has made this history this week after Nike signed him up for a three-year running contract.

Twenty-year-old Justin Gallegos, who attends University of Oregon, was surprised by John Douglass, Nike's insight director, who popped up at a run practice to hand-deliver the contract.


Sharing the happy news on Instagram, Gallegos wrote: "Growing up with a disability, the thought of becoming a professional athlete is as I have said before like the thought of climbing Mt. Everest.

"It is definitely possible, but the odds are most definitely not in your favour! Hard work pays off!"

A heart-warming clip shared by Elevation 0m to coincide with Cerebral Palsy Day showed the moment Gallegos was given the contract. In the short clip, Gallegos can be seen warming up for a race, before being told that he's being signed up with Nike. A shocked Gallegos then burst into tears as drops to his knees as the emotions take over.

His Instagram post continued: "I was once a kid in braces who could barely put one foot in front of the other.

"Thank you everyone for helping show the world that there is No Such Thing As A Disability."

On Twitter he has talked about how proud he is to be a part of team Nike.

Gallegos' achievement is made all the more impressive by the fact that he had used a walker to help him get around while growing up, before taking part in physical therapy and eventually taking up running while in high school.

In April of this year, Gallegos ran the Eugene Half Marathon in 2h 03m 49s and dreams of one day completing a half marathon in less than two hours, which, if his past determination is anything to go by, will only be a matter of time.

Congratulations, mate.

Featured Image Credit: Elevation 0m for Nike

Topics: SPORT, US News