TPM Episode 382: Zach Miller, Paralympian, World Champion Snowboarder

Zach Miller is different than any World Champion I’ve had on the podcast. While he appears to be able-bodied, Zach has Cerebral Palsy, a neurological disorder that affects his mobility, posture, and balance. Zach found snowboarding through a hospital program, and that changed his life. Today, Zach is a Paralympian who travels the world to snowboard. On the podcast, we talk about CP and everything that goes along with it, including fatigue, challenges, and bullying. We also talk about competing against adaptive athletes while he looks able-bodied and the challenges that created. And, of course, we discuss money or complete lack thereof it, the Paralympics, and a whole lot more. It’s a different and important episode that everyone should hear.

Zach Miller Show Notes:

5:00:  Russell Wilson and God, Cerebral Palsy, he’s different than most adaptive athletes, growing up like he’s normal, and getting bullied.

21:30:  Stanley:  Get up 60% off at Stanley1913.com

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24:30:  Finding sports through his doctors, quitting skiing for snowboarding, Beijing Paralympic story, did he pick the wrong sport, US Paralympic Soccer Team, and being told he’s too functional to compete against para-athletes.

42:45:  Peter Glenn Ski and Sports:  Over 60 years of getting you out there. 

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45:45:  Kidney’s shut down, does CP affect his learning, stigma, and challenges that will happen at the Paralympics in Paris

57:00:  Getting shamed for making jokes, the disappointment of not making the team in 2018, nothings paid for and there is no prize money, almost being forced to quit, and finally making the Paralympic Team in 2022

69:00:  Inappropriate Questions