For Luis Alicea, having his leg amputated in June of 1993 was actually a blessing. Plagued by complications from meningitis he contracted at six-weeks-old, Luis had 20 surgeries in his first 19 years of life. "I had never gone more than two years without needing surgery and I was in pain most of the time," he says. Luis even had to convince his parents that the amputation surgery would be better than living in constant pain. "Now it's been four years and I'm doing great!"
'Doing great' is an understatement. Luis competed in the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, held in conjunction with the traditional Olympics, where he won a gold medal in the 100-Meter Freestyle, a silver in the 400-Meter Freestyle and a bronze in the 50-Meter Freestyle. In 1995 he won five individual events in the U.S. Nationals and he holds two world records.
Although he swims without a prosthesis, Luis utilizes several different legs for the different kinds of cross-training he does. Luis says he bikes 50 miles a week and works out every day.
"I'm always coming up with new things I think will help improve my training," Luis comments. "Every time I come up with something, I talk it over with them. They are always willing and able to make modifications on my legs for me."
Luis says he has been swimming for as long as he can remember. He started swimming as part of his physical therapy regime and continued to swim as an 'escape.'
"When I swam, I was free. I was equal. My disability was forgotten. I guess my friends and family realized that I had some natural talent and they encouraged me to get competitive."
And get competitive he did. From YMCA swim meets to high school competitions to two National Championships and one Paralympic Games.
Even the surgery to remove his leg didn't slow him down. He was back in the water before the surgical staples were removed. But walking wasn't to be as easy for Luis as swimming. "When I was fit for my first leg, (not by Sunny Hills) blistering occurred almost immediately. I decided I could be happy in a wheelchair, at least I was pain-free for the first time in my life. I didn't walk for nine months," Luis explains.
Thankfully, Luis met a fellow amputee at the pool one day.
"He was a Sunny Hills patient and told me that he frequently worked out in his prosthesis and didn't have a problem with it being painful." Luis decided to make an appointment to see a Sunny Hills prosthetist. The rest is history!
If you would like to contact Luis, you can send him an e-mail via Sunny Hills -- info@sunnyhills.com
