When it comes to playing sports as an adult, have you ever uttered the following (or similar) words: “I’m too old,” “I’m too slow,” “I’m too fat,” “I’m too uncoordinated,” “It’s too late for me to start a sport”?
You might want to rethink those words after hearing adult athlete Steve Ferreira’s story. Steve has defied unthinkable odds to become a multisport athlete with a seemingly insatiable appetite to try even more.
Steve was also born not breathing, has cerebral palsy, and relies on a wheelchair to get around. Despite this, he exudes positivity and has an enviable zest for life, especially all things sports.
Steve’s repertoire of athletic skills include playing baseball, basketball, weightlifting, rugby, track and field, and more.
As part of our featured adult athlete series, Steve’s story is one you’ll want to know.
Defying Odds Right Off The Bat
The first odd Steve defied was death, right as his life began in Taipei, Taiwan. He was born not breathing, an hour after his twin sister entered the world.
Fortunately, Steve did live. But three months after his birth, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects the way one can move one’s body and muscles, but it can also affect speech, vision, bones, and a whole host of other things, depending on its severity.
Steve was adopted as a baby by American parents, and despite Steve being in a wheelchair, they signed him up for tee ball at the age of five. This was not an adaptive sports program, but rather your run-of-the-mill classic Americana tee ball league.
Steve quite literally rolled up to home plate to bat, and neither he nor his coach were prepared for what would happen next.
“I’m going to tell you a funny story,” Steve told me with a coy smile. “The coach underestimated me, so he stood close to me. I hit the ball, and it hit him where the sun don’t shine!”
That wouldn’t be the last time Steve would be underestimated. (Nor would it be the last that Steve proved doubters wrong).
Award-Winning High School Athlete
Steve progressed from tee ball to baseball and then to wheelchair basketball when he was in high school.
And then he sort of happened upon weight training.
“When I was in high school, my physical therapy turned into weight training,” Steve recalled. Weight training became Steve’s passion, and it’s something he still does regularly today, training multiple times a week.
During Steve’s senior year in high school, he was awarded the Medallion award for athletics out of all the athletes in his school.
“A teacher [who recommended me for the award] said I showed up for the weight training class and didn’t have any excuses. I just wanted to work out,” Steve said.
That’s when Steve adopted his moniker, No Excuses Steve. It’s how you’ll find him on Instagram.
Record-Breaking Adult Athlete
As Steve entered adulthood, his athletic passion continued. He’s been an active participant, competing regularly at the Paralympics, where he’s racked up silver and gold medals both nationally and internationally.
Most recently, he broke the record in the shot put by a whopping 66 percent.
But even within organizations designed to support the progression of people with disabilities, Steve has faced adversity. There is a classification process for athletes within the Paralympics, and Steve said in 2009, he was excluded from participating in certain sports. Officials didn’t think people with cerebral palsy would have enough muscle to compete in things like weightlifting.
Fortunately, things changed in 2010.
“I got reclassified, and I won the gold medal in the discus while having pneumonia. That changed the game for people with cerebral palsy,” said Steve.
Steve thinks part of the issue is that most officials for these events don’t have a physical disability–he estimates 80-85 percent–so they can’t relate. “It’s like me making rules for regular [able-bodied] track and field events. How would they feel if I showed up and made up some garbage rules?”
Steve also notes there are certain ways to interact with people with disabilities who play sports. People should ask what, if any, accommodations they need. “That’s better than assuming that I don’t have the ability.”
Biggest Misconceptions Of A Disabled Athlete
When I asked Steve what the biggest misconceptions people might have of someone like him, he said it’s that people are quick to doubt his abilities.
“When I roll into the gym [people] look at me like, ‘Why the hell is he here? He’s in a wheelchair,'” Steve said.
And then he shows his doubters a thing or two when he starts to warm up with leg presses. “I would warm up with 400 pounds, and end on 800 pounds,” Steve told me. “And people were looking at me.”
But that’s what fires him up the most. “For the people who doubt me, I will respectfully and educationally call them out, but I will not stoop to their level,” Steve said.
He uses the analogy of having a temporary injury and still being able to do things, just differently. So why is a disability so stigmatized?
A Desire To Inspire
In addition to sports, public speaking is Steve’s other passion. He started dabbling in it at the age of fifteen.
Steve launched his organization, Beyond Disabilities, in 2011. Through Beyond Disabilities, Steve travels locally, nationally, and even internationally to speak and inspire others. He’s spoken to grade schools, universities, and corporations.
He even spoke in Taipei, Taiwan, where he was born. And you know you’ve made it big when you give a TED Talk.
“My mission is to inform individuals and communities around the world that if you’re disabled, you’re just like everyone else. You’re just living life in a different way,” he said.
Steve continued, “The crazy thing is that I’ve been doing my passion more than half my life, and I love it! It doesn’t matter if I have ten people or 100 people in the crowd. All that matters is one person, and it grows from there.”
Motivational Series’
Steve also records two short video series’ for bite-sized bits of motivation. One is titled “Ride With Steve Ferreira” where he attaches a GoPro to his wheelchair as he cruises around talking about awareness and motivation.
The second series is called “Build It With Steve,” and it chronicles his weightlifting journey. He aims to educate other people with disabilities on how they can adapt their workouts.
You can find these series’ on his social media channels.
What’s Next For Steve?
Steve’s next project is creating a functional trainer and a rowing machine that allows able-bodied people and disabled people to work out next to each other.
Rowing is in the sightline for Steve’s next sports phase. “I want to get into adaptive rowing. There’s a program here in Seattle. I want to end my track and field career while I’m on top.”
Steve’s Words Of Wisdom
Steve’s motto since he was fifteen is “Accomplish your goals at your own pace.” It’s also become the motto of his organization.
Everyone is on their own timeline, but everyone has abilities that will allow them to shine.
He ends with, “I believe everyone who is born has some sort of purpose in life, but they have to find that purpose. People will help you, but you have to challenge yourself and find it yourself to be successful.”
In other words, no excuses.
