Palmiero-Winters during the competition. Photograph courtesy of Tough Mudder.
On November 15, amputee Amy Palmiero-Winters took on one of the hardest obstacle courses in the world for able-bodied athletes-the World’s Toughest Mudder 2014 in Las Vegas-finishing first in the 40-44 female age division. Palmiero-Winters, who lost her left leg below the knee in a motorcycle accident, was the only leg amputee competing as an individual in the race.
The World’s Toughest Mudder, held annually, is a grueling obstacle course where competitors race to complete as many laps around the course as they can in a 24-hour period. The course itself consists of more than 30 obstacles that must be completed to continue. Palmiero-Winters finished 11 laps (55 miles) in 24:59:20, which, in addition to giving her first in her age division, put her 11th overall among females and 93rd out of 1,019 total competitors.
“The conditions were beyond brutal,” said Palmiero-Winters. “It was extremely windy, like we were inside a tornado. The Cliff Jump obstacle was by far the hardest on the course. We had to climb up the side of a cliff and jump off a 38-foot drop into a pit of water. Then we had to climb out, except there were sheer walls around the sides. This was easily one of the toughest races I’ve ever been in, but as always, I love proving that having a disability doesn’t mean you’re disabled.”
For more information on the World’s Toughest Mudder or to view photos of Palmiero-Winters at the event, visit www.toughmudder.com or www.weareastepahead.com/amy-palmiero-winters-conquers-worlds-toughest-mudder-finishes-first-division.