(Ep044) Gabe DenBraber: From Spina Bifida Diagnosis to Team USA Wheelchair Basketball Captain
When he was 11 years old, Gabe DenBraber’s parents revealed some stunning news: he couldn’t play able-bodied sports anymore. Gabe was born with spina bifida, but played baseball for years. Then came two surgeries that compromised the use of his legs and with it, words that every parent would dread saying. Gabe grieved the loss of the game he loved and questioned his faith, but one day his Dad had an idea that would change everything: why not try wheelchair basketball.
Quickly learning the sport, Gabe gained confidence as his skills improved. He also developed an unbreakable mindset that kept him going through falls, further surgeries, and other setbacks. In his junior year, Gabe’s team captured a national championship and followed it by winning the NIT tournament the following year. This led to offers from several high-ranked college squads and Gabe choosing to play for the storied University of Illinois program, which has won 15 national titles. He has since tried out for the senior national team and been named a captain of Team USA’s under-23 team.
In this episode, Gabe shares how he:
Decided that you can either let life take you or you can take life
Channeled the belief of coaches Lee Montgomery and Steve Buchi to develop unshakeable confidence
Used a rough regular season as fuel for a national championship run
Kept telling the world “yes” when it told him “no”
Made the cut for Team USA U23 and helped the team win gold in Mexico as a captain
Chose to always get up after falling down
Connected with a ball boy whose father was killed in front of him by a drug cartel
Follow Gabe’s journey on his Instagram channel and Twitter feed, and keep you eyes peeled for the Bigger than the Chair documentary on him that’s coming soon.
