Athletes who have lost a limb, either through an accident or birth defect, often times adopt a new steel body part. For some, that means learning how to balance and walk all over again. It takes mental and physical strength, determination and willpower to beat adversity and overcome such difficulties. The hard work and resilience of amputee athletes can be transformed into dreams, thanks to the power of steel.

Inspirational Athletes

Following a serious car accident in 1979, Tom Whittaker’s right foot was amputated. Despite being fitted with a prosthetic foot, he refused to give up his love of mountain climbing and worked continuously to regain his strength. Two years after his accident, he founded the Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group (C.W.HOG) in Pocatello, Idaho, where he remained active in the local climbing community.

In May 1998, on his third attempt, Whittaker lived out his lifelong dream of reaching the summit of Mt. Everest, making him the first person with a disability to accomplish the feat. Through continued training, his prosthetic foot has become an advantage to climbing rather than a disadvantage, and he remains on his quest to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents.

Another inspirational Paralympian is Aimee Mullins. She was born with Fibular Hemimelia, a birth defect that left her without either calf bone. Mullins had both of her legs amputated below the knee on her first birthday and she learned to walk with prosthetic legs by the time she was two. She competed at the national and international levels as a champion sprinter, and set world records at the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta. She now works as a model, actress and advocate for the future of prosthetics.

Some people call Mullins and people like her disabled, but she doesn’t think of herself in that way. She describes herself as “super bodied” thanks to the variety of prosthetic legs that she can choose to wear depending on what she wants to do on any given day.

When Kelly Cartwright was 15, doctors discovered cancer in her leg. Unable to undergo chemotherapy, she had no choice but to have her leg amputated. This life-changing event, however, didn’t stop Cartwright from pursuing her dreams. In 2008, she competed at her first Paralympic Games in Beijing and finished sixth in the 100 meter sprint. Four years later, at the London 2012 Paralympics, she won two medals—gold in the long jump and silver in the 100 meter sprint.

Making Prosthetic Limbs

Amputee athletes are revolutionizing prosthetics by turning their limbs into sport-specific power tools. From hands shaped like ice axes to blade runners for feet, these prostheses are smarter, lighter and stronger than ever before.

The typical prosthetic device consists of a custom fitted socket and a pylon, the internal frame or skeleton of the prosthetic limb. The pylon must provide structural support and has traditionally been formed with metal rods. A variety of other components, such as knees and rotators, are made with aluminum, stainless steel and titanium.

Steel is strong, but it is also heavy, so nowadays steel is primarily used to create small components that rely more on the strength of the material than the geometry of the design. By using a variety of materials, it’s possible to design prosthetics to fit the individual need of each amputee.

Thanks to the development of steel and the transformation of related technology, amputees have been granted limitless opportunities and with that, these talented, hard-working and determined athletes are changing the world’s perception of what’s possible.

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Throughout March, The Steel Wire will take an in-depth look at the people of steel. From stories of those who actively play a part in the steel industry to those who are directly affected by the products made from steel, we will bring you features that will illustrate just how significant the industry truly is.

Here’s a preview of what to expect this month:

The Women of Steel

Although the steel industry is often considered a “man’s industry,” more and more women are beginning to pursue jobs in this field. With grit, determination and strength, inside and out, these women now account for 20 percent of the salaried and managerial ranks, and 10 percent of hourly workers. In honor of International Women’s Day, we investigate the challenges that women endured over the years as they pursued work in the field.

Limbs of Steel: How Prosthetics are Powering Athletes with Disabilities

Today’s most driven athletes with disabilities are transforming prosthetics by turning their limbs into sport-specific power tools. From hands shaped like ice axes to blade runners for feet, these prostheses are smarter, lighter, stronger and more efficient than ever before, all thanks to steel. Meet some of the most inspiring athletes out there—men and women who have overcome physical challenges to cross finish lines at record speeds, power across swimming pools and climb the world’s biggest mountains.

The World’s Most Famous Blacksmiths

Blacksmithing is an ancient art that dates back to the Iron Age, when primitive man first began making tools from iron. Since then, there have been a select few blacksmiths who have particularly made their mark on the steel industry. Often times these smiths and their weapons are closely associated with famous figures in time. This article will take a look at some of the most famous of the lot.

Fishing for a Solution: How an Iron Fish is Treating Anemia

Anemia is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world, affecting 2 billion people globally. But Canadian scientists have come up with an ingenious solution to help alleviate the problem. Meet the Lucky Iron Fish—a fish-shaped chunk of iron that’s put into a pot and boiled with lemon to give adults 75 percent of their daily recommended iron intake, and close to 100 percent for kids in nations where anemia is prevalent.

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