Boise’s Willie Stewart is scheduled to be inducted on Saturday, December 8th, into the U.S. Disabled Snow Sports Hall of Fame at The Hartford Ski Spectacular in Breckenridge, Colorado.
In 1980, Stewart -- affectionately known as “One Arm” Willie -- suffered a construction accident resulting in his arm being ripped from the socket. Because of rush hour traffic, Willie ran a mile on foot to a nearby hospital, while trying to hold his left bicep muscles in place with his remaining arm.
After recuperating from the accident, Stewart became involved in the Challenged Athletes Foundation -- which helps hundreds of other injured and challenged athletes to get involved in sports.
As a result, Stewart also became involved in endurance sports. He has won the Catalina Marathon overall, completed the IRONMAN and Xterra world championships, finished the iconic Leadville Trail 100 MTB numerous times (an elevation start of 10,000 feet), and earned a Paralympic medal in cross country skiing. In 2017, Stewart became the first challenged athlete to take on the Leadman challenge in Colorado.
He raced a progressive series of trail run and mountain bike events -- ranging from 26.2 to 100 miles -- for a total of 282.4 miles.
Stewart lives in Boise and is a committed and long-time spokesperson for CAF.
The Challenged Athletes Foundation helps people with physical challenges lead active, healthy lifestyles. CAF believes that participation in physical activity at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life. Since 1994, more than $100 million has been raised and more than 23,000 individual grants have been satisfied for people with physical challenges in all 50 states and over 40 countries have been satisfied.
