Kirstie Ennis' narrative may have started when she lost her leg in Afghanistan after her chopper crashed, but it by no means comes to an end there. The former Marine sergeant has already done more than most people do in their lifetimes following more than 40 operations and the amputation of her leg, first below and then above the knee due to a life-threatening infection.
Inspired by her parents, who were both Marines, Ennis enlisted in the Marines and became an aviation technician. She has been motivated to work even harder despite all that has happened, not just for herself but also to encourage others.
Ennis has disproved the idea of a "disabled athlete" by demonstrating how capable she is even with only one leg. She reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in order to aid the charity The Waterboys. She then accomplished the ascent of Carstensz, Oceania's highest point, for The Heroes Project; Elbrus, Europe's highest point, in support of GLAM4GOOD; and last, Aconcagua, South America's highest peak at 22,841 feet. She has reached the top of Cotopaxi, Ecuador's highest mountain, and she attempted to climb Denali in support of Building Homes for Heroes but was forced to turn back due to bad weather.
Ennis won the Pat Tillman Award at the ESPYs after returning from Everest. She received the "Higher Ground" honor at the Martin Luther King Jr. family's Salute to Greatness Awards. She was also the International Sports Hall of Fame's youngest-ever inductee.
Ennis' tale has received extensive coverage, including appearances on Tamron Hall, in People and ESPN The Magazine's "Body" issue, as well as in a Sports Emmy-nominated segment on HBO's Real Sports..

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