Journey of a Lifetime
Brett Freiburger (AS, 2008 and BS, 2009), practicing physical therapist assistant and recent USF graduate with a BS in Exercise Science is an exceptional athlete. After his hunting accident in December 2001, which resulted in a left trans-tibial (below knee) amputation, Freiberger sought a sport in which he could train and compete. Running has been a great fit. Freiberger began running four and one half years ago in the Fort Wayne Rat Race, a 10K race in which he used his regular prosthetic leg. With the assistance of the two prosthetists of SRT Prosthetics who are both Para Olympians, Freiberger was admitted to the Ambassador Program for Ossur, a world prosthetic and orthotic supplier. They supplied Freiberger with a running foot and the associated supplies he needed.
Freiburger has combined his exceptional drive and talent with some wonderful opportunities as he maps his progress and plans to qualify for the 2012 Paralympics in London. He has received training/coaching from Ken Matsuda, USC track and field coach and coach for tennis stars Michael Chang and Maria Sharapova and for football players Emmanuel Moody and OJ Simpson. He has trained at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. He competed at the Paralympic Track and Field Nationals in Georgia in 2007 and at the 2008 finals at Arizona State University. The 2008 finals were the qualifying event for the 2008 Paralympics in Bejing and Freiberger missed qualifying in the 400 m by three seconds and missed qualifying in the 200m by 2 seconds. In 2008, Freiberger was invited to be sponsored by Powerbar and to be a member of the Powerbar Elite Team.
Freiberger has had some recent setbacks. He was unable to accept invitations from the coordinators of USA Paralympic Track and Field to either the University of Texas or a second track meet at the Olympic Training Center in California earlier this year. Both meets were held in April and Freiberger had just recently resumed running following a December 2008 surgical repair of his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).
Freiberger did compete in Manchester England May 21 – 25 in the World Games. He had considered not competing since he was only 5 months post surgery on his knee but his coaches and family encouraged him to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He was satisfied with his performance and he hopes that his running form and times continue to improve as he continues his challenging and exciting journey of a lifetime. We hope to see Brett represent the USA and USF in the 2012 Paralympics in London.
We Want Your Story
The Web Services Team is looking for people and stories to be featured on the homepage. Have you taken a class from a great professor that you think deserves to be featured? Know an alumnus who has an interesting job? Maybe you have done work that made a difference to people? How has USF impacted your life? We want to know your story! Send an email to the webmaster and tell us why you or someone you know should be featured on sf.edu.
Previously Featured
- Assisting Surgeries Right from the Start
- Internally Auditing a Fortune 500 Company
- Respecting creation and using resources wisely
- Journey of a Lifetime
- Bringing Travels Back to the Classroom
- When Ice Cream and Accounting Go Hand in Hand
- Sowing Seeds of Peace
- Students on Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome
- The Birthplace of an Ocean
- Serving One Another, Society, & the Church
- Our students try to give of themselves, “from head to toe.”
- Hands-on Learning with a Professional Artist