More Than Medals

Meet Howie Sanborn—Paralympian, retired U.S. Army Airborne Ranger, and former Golden Knight with the Army Parachute Team. After a cycling accident in 2012 left him paralyzed, Howie refused to slow down. He turned his focus to paratriathlon, and in 2024, earned his spot on Team USA for the Paris Paralympic Games.   In this episode, Howie talks about channeling his military mindset into sport,...

Meet Howie Sanborn—Paralympian, retired U.S. Army Airborne Ranger, and former Golden Knight with the Army Parachute Team. After a cycling accident in 2012 left him paralyzed, Howie refused to slow down. He turned his focus to paratriathlon, and in 2024, earned his spot on Team USA for the Paris Paralympic Games.   In this episode, Howie talks about channeling his military mindset into sport,...

Meet Trinity Lowthian , Canadian wheelchair fencer and a rising Paralympic star. Trinity discovered wheelchair after battling an autoimmune autonomic neuropathy through most of her high school years.   Now balancing elite sport, university studies in nutrition and food science, and advocacy, Trinity uses her platform to expand accessibility and representation through initiatives like TRYumph...

Meet  Shelby Newkirk —Paralympic swimming medallist, entrepreneur and passionate advocate for the disability community. Diagnosed with dystonia in her teens, Shelby lives with a progressive neurological condition that continues to impact her mobility and daily life. Shelby shares what it’s like to compete at the highest level while living with a progressive disability—and how she’s turned tha...

Meet  Hailey Danz —Paralympic champion, cancer survivor, and all-around amazing human being. At just 14 years old, Hailey faced an unthinkable decision: attempt limb salvage surgery or choose amputation. It was time spent at a camp for kids with disabilities that gave her the clarity and confidence to choose her own path.   Leanne and Hailey explore Hailey’s experience of growing up with...

Leanne Taylor welcomes  Austin Smeenk , a world-class T34 wheelchair racer from Oakville, Ontario and three-time Paralympian and three-time Paralympic medalist.   In their conversation, Austin dives into his early start in adaptive sports, the mental and physical grind behind his podium finishes and world records, and the unexpected—and often hilarious—challenges of  dating with a d...

Jessica Tuomela sits down with host Leanne Taylor to share what it was like growing up with a visual impairment after losing her vision to retinoblastoma at age 3.   Jessica reflects on the unique challenges and experiences she faced as a child, how those early years shaped her, and what daily life is like navigating the world as an adult without sight.   Together, Jessica and Leanne hav...

Leanne is joined by  Lauren Parker , fresh off winning  three medals at the Paris Paralympics . From the outside, her success looks unstoppable — but Lauren opens up about the mental struggles she’s faced since her life-altering injury in 2017, and the strength it takes to keep pushing forward.   Together, they dive into the emotional toll of sudden trauma and reinvention, what resi...

Leanne Taylor sits down with Greg Stewart, a remarkable Canadian Paralympian who has won two gold medals in shot put. Standing at an impressive 7 feet 2 inches tall, Greg's story is one of resilience and determination. Born without the lower part of his left arm, he shares his journey from overcoming personal challenges to achieving greatness on the world stage. Greg discusses his transition from...

Kendall Gretsch is a Paralympic champion in both summer and winter sport and although that gives us plenty of reason to fan girl over her, at More Than Medals we love Kendall for being a fierce competitor and a loyal friend. Listen to Kendall shares stories about growing up with spina bifida, including how she adapted to a loss of motor function she experienced in high school.  Check out the...

More Than Medals by Crossing The Line is a podcast from Canada's Leanne Taylor, the first woman in Canada's history to medal in paratriathlon, at Paris 2024. "More Than Medals was born from a desire to share with the world, the lessons that my friends in the parasport community have taught me" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.