Nothing Slows Down Survivor contestant Chad Crittenden
As a Survivor contestant, it gives Chad great pride to see another one of his own, a challenged athlete and fellow amputee, on CBS’ hit reality show this season on a show that continues to draw in tens of millions of viewers. Chad’s fellow Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) triathlete and friend Kelly is truly representing those that have challenges, yet move ahead with confidence, courage and drive. Millions around the world have found inspiration by their actions on a television show, but more importantly by their achievements in life.
Chad draws many parallels between himself and his friend and fellow Survivor this season: both are avid athletes, and when it comes to triathlon, a unique determination and stamina are both shared and valued.
Nearly 7 months after he lost his foot to cancer, triathlon was Chad’s first major athletic accomplishment, as he trained for and completed a sprint distance form of this race. Within 6 months after that achievement, he was on the road to becoming the first amputee to compete on Survivor, while facing some of the most daunting, grueling and physically taxing challenges of his life, able-bodied or not. Chad’s experiences while recovering from cancer as well as surgery prepared him for these challenges and taught him some valuable life lessons as well.
Some of these mental techniques, which helped Chad overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, have been qualified and broken down into some clearly defined concepts, which he calls Conceptual Tools. Not only has Chad used these tools in abstract ways in order to put life’s important things into perspective, but he has also used them in a practical way to achieve many of his goals.
In impressive fashion, since Survivor, Chad has gone on to compete in more than 20 triathlons with the CAF. Also a huge fan of extreme sports, in recent years he has earned a Silver medal at the O & P Extremity Games in the Mountain Biking competition as well as Bronze and Gold medals at the USASA Snowboard Championships in Copper Mountain, Colorado. This last year, Chad was also very proud to represent his friend and fellow Survivor contestant Ethan Zohn at the New York City Marathon, where Ethan was not able to participate and lead his Grassroots Soccer Marathon team because of complications with Hodgkin’s Disease. With his carbon fiber running foot, Chad finished with a race time of 4:35. Ethan is now worlds better and has thankfully made a miraculous and triumphant recovery.
The future is exciting for Chad as he explores new horizons, both physically challenging and profoundly rewarding. He will soon embark on a journey to train for the monumental Ironman Triathlon, while continuing to train for and enter mountain bike competitions. In other facets, Chad continues to reach out and inspire audiences across the country with his Conceptual Tools. These tools, illustrated as Steps, Circumstances, Optimism, Risk and Experience (or S.C.O.R.E.) are infused into Chad’s college keynote presentation: Discover the Will to Survive and are further defined and elaborated upon in his new student orientation keynote Getting Off on the Right Foot. With his humor and down to earth style, he prides himself on being very approachable and always enjoys interacting with audiences, answering questions and being in the moment. Join Chad as you learn and appreciate your own true potential while discovering what is possible!
For more information about Chad, his college keynotes and how to bring him to your campus, please visit campuspeak.com/crittenden.
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