Leo Sammarelli was an aspiring boxer and MMA fighter, before an accident paralyzed him from the waist down.
However, unwilling to give up martial arts, Sammarelli today competes in Jiu-Jitsu… Against non-disabled fighters.
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In a story brought by Global News, it’s said that Sammarelli’s accident happened when he was shot during a Royal Canadian Mounted Police target shooting exercise – which went wrong.
He was shot in the back, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. But that didn’t stop him from training; he was soon back to the gym, using his wheelchair to hit pads.
Fast forward to today, he recently competed in the “All Versus All” grappling tournament in Canada. He was matched with non-disabled fighters – but held his own in both matches.
Even though he didn’t manage to win, Sammarelli was cheered by the crowd. He sees his performance as good as a victory:
I think they’ve never seen anything like that or that they never even thought it was possible for someone like me to compete and hold my ground against some of these opponents.
I think that’s the biggest victory I came away from that day… Showing people that no matter what has happened to you, that shouldn’t stop you.
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Sammarelli also started a “Westcoast Wheelchair Adaptive Boxing” nonprofit organization, which is meant to help other athletes like himself get back in the gym.
Along with his coach, Meego Ward-Yassin, he is helping fighters with disabilities adapt and learn martial arts; as well as helping them find tournaments to compete in.
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