Sarah Reinertsen
Encyclopedia
Sarah Reinertsen is an American
athlete. She was the first female leg amputee to complete the Ironman Triathlon
World Championship in Kona
, Hawaii.
She first attempted to finish the race in 2004, but was disqualified when she failed to meet the qualifying time for the bike leg by 15 minutes. She returned in 2005 and completed the race in just over 15 hours. Besides marathons and triathlons, Sarah has also competed in bicycle races. She was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency
, a bone-growth disorder which eventually led to her becoming an above-the-knee amputee at the age of seven. After the amputation, she began to run track and broke the 100-meter world record for female above-the-knee amputees at the age of 13. She was formerly the marketing coordinator for Ossur
and spokesperson for the Challenged Athletes Foundation
. She was featured on the cover of Runner's World
and was named one of the first eight "Heroes of Running" in the magazine. She has also appeared on the cover of Triathlete magazine and Max Sports & Fitness magazine. Since 1991, she has recorded a number of athletic accomplishments:
In 2006, she used the Ossur
Total Knee 2000 and Talux Foot as she competed with her then-boyfriend Peter Harsch on The Amazing Race 10
. They finished the race in 7th place. A native of Huntington
, New York
(and a Huntington High School
graduate), she now lives and trains in Orange County
, California
. She also works as a motivational speaker
.
She won the 2006 Best Female Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award
.
She is featured in a 2007 ad campaign for the Lincoln MKZ
.
In October 2009, she was pictured partially nude in ESPN the Magazine
s body issue.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete. She was the first female leg amputee to complete the Ironman Triathlon
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a swim, a bike and a marathon run, raced in that order and without a break...
World Championship in Kona
Kona District, Hawaii
Kona is the name of a moku or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the moku of Kona is divided into North Kona District and South Kona District . The term "Kona" is sometimes used to refer to its largest town,...
, Hawaii.
She first attempted to finish the race in 2004, but was disqualified when she failed to meet the qualifying time for the bike leg by 15 minutes. She returned in 2005 and completed the race in just over 15 hours. Besides marathons and triathlons, Sarah has also competed in bicycle races. She was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency
Proximal femoral focal deficiency
Proximal femoral focal deficiency is a rare, non-hereditary birth defect that affects the pelvis, particularly the hip bone, and the proximal femur. The disorder may affect one side or both, with the hip being deformed and the leg shortened....
, a bone-growth disorder which eventually led to her becoming an above-the-knee amputee at the age of seven. After the amputation, she began to run track and broke the 100-meter world record for female above-the-knee amputees at the age of 13. She was formerly the marketing coordinator for Ossur
Ossur
Össur is a company making non-invasive orthopaedics. It makes and sells bracing and support products, compression therapy, and prosthetics. The company’s headquarters are in Reykjavík, Iceland. The company also has extensive operations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, with numerous distributors...
and spokesperson for the Challenged Athletes Foundation
Challenged Athletes Foundation
The Challenged Athletes Foundation is an organization that provides grants for training, competition and equipment needs to people with disabilities.- History :The Challenged Athletes Foundation was founded in 1997....
. She was featured on the cover of Runner's World
Runner's World
Runner's World is a globally circulated monthly magazine for runners of all skills sets, published by Rodale Press in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
and was named one of the first eight "Heroes of Running" in the magazine. She has also appeared on the cover of Triathlete magazine and Max Sports & Fitness magazine. Since 1991, she has recorded a number of athletic accomplishments:
- Setting world records in the 100 m, 200 m, 400 m in her division (T42);
- Becoming the youngest member of the 1992 U.S. Paralympic Team to go to BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
; - Conquering seven marathons (NYC 1997, 1998; LA 1998, 1999; Millennium New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
2000; LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
2002; and BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
2004); - Holding the world record in the half marathon (2:12) and the marathon (5:27) for above-knee amputee women.
In 2006, she used the Ossur
Ossur
Össur is a company making non-invasive orthopaedics. It makes and sells bracing and support products, compression therapy, and prosthetics. The company’s headquarters are in Reykjavík, Iceland. The company also has extensive operations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, with numerous distributors...
Total Knee 2000 and Talux Foot as she competed with her then-boyfriend Peter Harsch on The Amazing Race 10
The Amazing Race 10
The Amazing Race 10 is the tenth installment of the reality television show The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 10 features twelve teams of two with a pre-existing relationship in a race around the world....
. They finished the race in 7th place. A native of Huntington
Huntington, New York
The Town of Huntington is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Founded in 1653, it is located on the north shore of Long Island in northwestern Suffolk County, with Long Island Sound to its north and Nassau County adjacent to the west. Huntington is part of the New York metropolitan...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(and a Huntington High School
Huntington High School (New York)
Huntington High School is a four-year, public secondary school located in Huntington, New York. It functions as the high school for the Huntington Union Free School District, serving students in Huntington...
graduate), she now lives and trains in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. She also works as a motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
.
She won the 2006 Best Female Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award
Best Female Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award
The Best Female Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award, known alternatively as the Outstanding Female Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award, has been presented annually since 2005 to the female, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the best athlete with a physical disability...
.
She is featured in a 2007 ad campaign for the Lincoln MKZ
Lincoln MKZ
The Lincoln MKZ, initially named the Lincoln Zephyr, is a mid-size, entry-level luxury car from the Lincoln division of the Ford Motor Company. Lincoln revived the Zephyr name in the fall of 2005 as a platform-mate for the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan; the vehicles were based on the CD3 platform,...
.
In October 2009, she was pictured partially nude in ESPN the Magazine
ESPN The Magazine
ESPN The Magazine is a bi-weekly sports magazine published by the ESPN sports network in Bristol, Connecticut in the United States. The first issue was published on March 11, 1998....
s body issue.