Todd Key

The backstory:
Key was adventurous as a child and at 7 years old he fell while climbing a tree, leaving him with a compound fracture in his arm. This fracture later became infected and after months in the hospital he lost function of his right hand. He didn’t let this stop though, Key continued doing the activities he wanted and play both baseball and tennis. At age 17, he was diagnosed with sarcoma, a connective-tissue cancer, that resulted in the amputation of his right leg above the knee and two years of chemotherapy. A few years later, he started riding again recreationally and as a means of transportation but quickly felt the desire to get back on the back, competitively. He has competed in a variety of races and cycling events throughout his career, including the 190-mile Pan-Mass Challenge and competing a total 5 years at the World Champions. Though his international career started later in his life, Key has gained incredible experience and is looking forward to taking on Tokyo next.

Away from cycling:
Key is outspoken about his experience and encouraging others to pursue their dreams no matter the obstacles, and even spends time helping other to overcome some obstacles. He has developed custom bike adaptions and is working to ensure that more people have access to similar modifications. Far away from cycling, Key enjoys relaxing and golfing.

In their own words:
“Once you get on that bike, the freedom is complete. You have this whole other ability of speed that’s just not available with prosthetics, even runners.”

“When I’m riding, there’s no one–there’s no two-legged person on a bike–that can get away from me on a downhill. Not Lance Armstrong. No one.”

Learn more:
Team USA: “Todd Key Cycling”
ABC Arizona: “58-year-old Valley resident, ASU alum Todd Key wins pair of para-cycling national championships”
Livability Magazine: “The key to Freedom”
Azed News: “Paracyclist and Cancer Survivor Todd Key Speaks to Gililland Middle School Students”