Brad Johnson

Sport: Sailing (2004) & SitVolleyball (2000 & currently)
Residence: Pompano Beach, Florida

Although Brad grew up in Milwaukee, WI, he always had a deep love of the water. Knowing at a young age that he wanted to be close to the sea, he left Milwaukee to attend the University of Florida.

After taking his law school entrance exams, Brad was traveling along Interstate 75 when his automobile hydroplaned into a guardrail. In a matter of seconds he lost his left leg below the knee and his right leg above the knee. One year after the accident, Brad began law school at the University of South Florida.

After graduating from UFF, he was introduced to disabled sports, which eventually led to his participation on the national sit-volleyball team, and competitions throughout the world in preparation for the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Upon returning from Sydney, he continued to play sit-volleyball, but also pursued his interest in sailing. In 2003, Brad was asked to tryout for the mainsail position on a Sonar class boat. The skipper, John-Ross Duggan and John Paul Creigneu, the foredeck, asked him to join them in competing for the number one team position on the US Sailing Team. Subsequently, the team won the #1 position and began training for the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece. Unfortunately, athletes are not permitted to compete in two team sports, so Brad was presented with a difficult choice, sit volleyball or sailing.

Brad selected Sailing and won the bronze medals at the Athens Games in the sonar class. However, Brad has decided to return to sit volleyball. In 2007, the U.S Sit Volleyball Team men won the silver medal at the Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Unfortunately the silver medal did not qualify the men’s sit volleyball team to attend the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

Brad currently lives in Florida where he works as an attorney. He also works with The Hartford, founding sponsor of U.S. Paralympics®, using his experience and success – in sport and at work – to help positively change public attitudes and perceptions toward disability.