Available to book
Blake Leeper
Adversity
Diversity and Inclusion
High Performance
Blake Leeper helps audiences rethink the limits of human performance and adaptability. A 2x Paralympian and world record holder in the 400m T44, Blake draws on a career spanning Paralympic medals, USATF national titles, and partnerships with Nike and Airbnb.
Paralympics
Athlete
Motivational
Author
After Dinner Speakers
Celebrity
After Dinner Sports
Inspirational
Mindset
High Energy
TEDx
Patrick "Blake" Leeper was born in Kingsport, Tennessee, and has worn prosthetics since he was nine months old after being born with both legs missing below the knee. Coached by his father, he played baseball and basketball as a child and credits his family's support for shaping his positive outlook.
Blake made his international debut in Rio de Janeiro and began his racing career in 2010, quickly progressing to train at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. He won silver in the 4x100m relay at the 2011 World Championships and at the 2012 London Paralympic Games earned bronze in the 200 meters and silver in the 400 meters. At the 2013 World Championships in Lyon he won four medals and helped set the world-record 4x100-meter relay.
Blake set a landmark world record in the 400 meters in June 2018 with a time of 44.42 seconds, the fastest time ever recorded by an amputee. He lowered it again to 44.38 at the 2019 USATF National Championships, becoming the first amputee to qualify for the national team and world championships. He has won one gold, six silver, and one bronze medal across Paralympics and World Championships competition, and set American records in the 100m, 200m, and 400m.
Beyond competition, Blake is a motivational speaker and the author of Leap of Faith: My Journey to Become the Fastest American on Two Blades. Known for his ability to connect with diverse audiences, he has been featured in motivational videos and articles and appeared at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. He continues to pursue his goal of breaking barriers in both Paralympic and able-bodied competition.
Topics, sessions and talks
Born without legs below the knee, Blake Leeper refused to accept limitations. This session takes audiences through his journey from small-town Tennessee to the Paralympic podium and the world record books, breaking down what it truly takes to perform at an elite level when the odds are stacked against you. Blake shares the mindset shifts, training discipline, and relentless self-belief that carried him to six Paralympic medals and a world record 400m time of 44.38 seconds.
Blake Leeper was the first double-leg amputee to qualify for the USATF National Championships and compete at the World Championships, a milestone that redefined what the human body is capable of. In this session, he translates the lessons of high-performance sport into actionable strategies for any team or organisation facing resistance, setbacks, or seemingly impossible goals. Blake's message is direct: the only limits that truly hold us back are the ones we accept.
Blake Leeper set a world record in the 400 meters with a time of 44.38 seconds, the fastest ever recorded by an amputee, and became the first double-leg amputee to compete at the USATF National Championships. In this session, he traces the specific decisions and risks that made those firsts possible, drawing on the story behind his memoir Leap of Faith. He explores what it takes to pursue goals that have no existing template, and how to perform, adapt, and lead when you are building the path as you go.
Blake Leeper became the first amputee to run the 400m under 45 seconds and the first double-leg amputee to compete at the USATF National Championships. That combination of world-record performance and barrier-breaking firsts gives audiences a credible, current voice on redefining what's possible under pressure.
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Blake Leeper structures his sessions around a chronological narrative drawn from his memoir Leap of Faith, tracing the specific decisions and risks behind his athletic milestones — including his world record 400m time of 44.38 seconds and his qualification for the USATF National Championships — before translating those events into performance and resilience frameworks applicable to teams and organisations.
Blake Leeper speaks on adopting a high-performance mindset, overcoming adversity and limitation, and leading through resistance and setbacks. He holds six Paralympic medals and set the 400m world record for amputees at 44.38 seconds at the 2019 USATF National Championships, becoming the first double-leg amputee to qualify for the national team and World Championships.
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