Fireman/Lawyer loses 2 limbs; and attempts Hawaiian Ironman After watching video of Scott Rigsby completing the Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, Hawaii as a double amputee, Jason was inspired to enter » more

On August 15, 1992 Jason Gunter barely survived a serious boating accident in the Gulf of Mexico, near his childhood home of Matlacha, Florida. The accident claimed his left leg below the knee, as well as his right hand. His injuries rendered him unlikely to continue his promising career as a Firefighter, and forced him to contemplate an entirely new set of personal and professional goals. Within 3 months however, Jason returned to work at the Cape Coral Fire Department where he was named Florida Firefighter of the Year in 1993. Jason’s determination carried on and aided him in graduating with honors from law school where his career was propelled to that of a successful trial attorney.
After watching video of Scott Rigsby completing the Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, Hawaii as a double amputee, Jason was inspired to enter his name in the Hawaiian Ironman lottery. Jason had never competed in a triathlon but he was selected. He then faced the daunting reality that he had less than five months to train for this monumental endurance race. Should he succeed in finishing the Hawaii Ironman, Jason would become the first ever combined upper- and lower-extremity amputee to finish the grueling 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run.
He trained in a hurry and went to Kona. On race day, with over 137 miles of the race completed, Jason Gunter collapsed from back pain and exhaustion. He was rushed to the medical center instead with just 3.5 miles left to go in the grueling race. Done for the day, but not defeated; upon his recovery Jason vowed to return to finish his Unthinkable challenge. Jason, like Scott, is an inspiration to all that cross his path in life.
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