8-time Paralympic Track and Field international medalist

Blake Leeper was born in Kingsport, Tennessee, with both legs missing below the knee and has worn prosthetics since nine months of age. As a child, he participated in various sports, including baseball and basketball, with his dad as his coach. Blake credits his positive attitude to the support of his family.

Leeper made his international debut in 2009 in Rio de Janeiro. In 2011, he won a silver medal in the 4 × 100 m relay at the World Championships. At the 2012 Paralympic Games, he earned a silver medal in the 400m T44 event and a bronze in the 200m.

Blake made history as the first double-leg amputee to compete at the USATF National Championships. After qualifying for the semifinals with a time of 45.52 seconds in the 400m, he broke Oscar Pistorius' world record the next day with a time of 45.25 seconds.

In 2018, Blake shattered his own world record, running the 400m in 44.42 seconds, becoming the first amputee to run under 45 seconds. In 2019, he broke another world record at the USATF National Championships with a time of 44.38 seconds, making him the first amputee to qualify for the national team and world championships. That year, Blake ran the 6th fastest time in the world, competing against able-bodied runners.