U.S. Paralympic Gold Medalist April Holmes talks to WWE.com

U.S. Paralympic Gold Medalist April Holmes talks to WWE.com

In 2001, April Holmes could have given up. After a train accident took her left leg from the knee down, the Paralympic gold medalist and World Record holder could have sat in her hospital bed, feeling sorry for herself and the change and pain she was about to endure. 

But when there is a hero inside of you, those challenges are met with courage and strength.

"The doctor who did my surgery gave me some Paralympic magazines when I was in the hospital," Holmes told WWE.com. "At first I thought he was crazy, but then I thought to myself, 'You now what, you can do this.' That was my first real introduction to the Paralympic games."

The accident occurred in January of 2001, and by the end of March, Holmes was up and walking - fast walking she says - on her prosthetic leg. She was living outside Philadelphia, and it was too cold with snow on the ground for her to really dig in to her training. 

"I just had it in my brain that I wanted three gold medals. Beginning to train, it was a process." the first woman of the Jordan brand said.

Just three years later, Holmes was breaking World Records and earning medals at the Parlympic Games in Athens, Greece. And in 2008 in Beijing, Holmes brought home the gold.

Now, as the Paralympic trials approach for the Summer Games and her quest for more gold in the 100 and 200 meters in London, training seems to be easier.

"I'm in competitions every weekend, so I really get a chance to fine-tune things and become mentally prepared. It's also important to stay away from injuries."

Her passion outside track and field has always been keeping a positive attitude - something she instills upon the children and other amputees she tells her story to.

"Be comfortable with who you are. When you look into the mirror be happy with yourself. Everybody was created to be different, we weren't all created to be alike," Holmes told WWE.com when asked about the advice she'd give others struggling with bullying and identifying themselves. "Be comfortable in your own skin. You're trying to be someone you're not rather than appreciation the beauty you have both inside and outside."

Just as Holmes speaks out about bullying and is a positive role model for people across the WWE Universe, she notes that beign a fan of WWE, the Superstars and Divas are too.

"I love Roddy Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon," Holmes said with a laugh. "Now when I watch I see Tamina in the ring and it's so cool to see what she does up there."

WWE.com caught up with Tamina, who was touched that Holmes would think of her.

"I'm inspired by her, " Tamina told WWE.com. "She said 'This is me, this is who I am, I'm going to take it, own it no matter what. I would love to meet her one day."

Holmes, who was named an All-American for track in college thinks she has the right moves to get inside the WWE ring. "I'm definitely a top rop person," she said with a smile. "I'd love to go up to the top rope and just land [the splash] on someone!"

And Holmes ring name? One Fast Amp is a moniker she's had throughout the years in competition

Tamina says she and the other Divas would welcome Holmes to step inside the squared circle at any time. 

"Any time, any day I'd love to have April come into the ring with me. We would tag team - I'd do the Superfly Splash on one side, she can do it off the other. She's such an inspiration."

U.S. Paralympic Gold Medalist April Holmes talks to WWE.com

In 2001, April Holmes could have given up. After a train accident took her left leg from the knee down, the Paralympic gold medalist and World Record holder could have sat in her hospital bed, feeling sorry for herself and the pain she was about to endure. 

But when there is a hero inside of you, those challenges are met with courage and strength.

"The doctor who did my surgery gave me some Paralympic magazines when I was in the hospital," Holmes told WWE.com. "At first I thought he was crazy, but then I thought to myself, 'You know what, you can do this.' That was my first real introduction the Paralympic Games."

The accident occurred in January 2001, and by the end of March, Holmes was up and walking — fast walking she says — on her prosthetic leg. She was living outside Philadelphia, and it was too cold with snow on the ground for her to really dig in to her training. 

"I just had it in my brain that I wanted three gold medals. Beginning to train, it was a process." the first woman of the Jordan brand said.

Just three years later, Holmes was breaking World Records and earning medals at the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. And in 2008 in Beijing, Holmes brought home the gold.

Now, as the Paralympic trials approach for the Summer Games and her quest for more gold in the 100 and 200 meters in London, training seems to be easier.

"I'm in competitions every weekend, so I really get a chance to fine-tune things and become mentally prepared. It's also important to stay away from injuries."

Her passion outside track and field has always been keeping a positive attitude — something she instills upon the children and other amputees she tells her story to.

"Be comfortable with who you are. When you look into the mirror be happy with yourself. Everybody was created to be different, we weren't all created to be alike," Holmes told WWE.com when asked about the advice she'd give others struggling with bullying and identifying themselves. "Be comfortable in your own skin. You're trying to be someone you're not rather than appreciate the beauty you have both inside and outside."

Just as Holmes speaks out about bullying and is a positive role model for people across the WWE Universe, she notes that, being a fan of WWE, the Superstars and Divas are too.

"I love 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon," Holmes said with a laugh. "Now when I watch, I see Tamina in the ring and it's so cool to see what she does up there."

WWE.com caught up with Tamina, who was touched that Holmes would think of her.

"I'm inspired by her," Tamina told WWE.com. "She said 'This is me, this is who I am, I'm going to take it, own it no matter what. I would love to meet her one day."

Holmes, who was named an All-American for track in college thinks she has the right moves to get inside the WWE ring. "I'm definitely a top rope person," she said with a smile. "I'd love to go up to the top rope and just land [the splash] on someone!"

And Holmes' ring name? "One Fast Amp" is a moniker she's had throughout the years in competition.

Tamina says she and the other Divas would welcome Holmes to step inside the squared circle at any time. 

"Any time, any day, I'd love to have April come into the ring with me. We would tag team - I'd do the Superfly Splash on one side, she can do it off the other. She's such an inspiration."

For more information on April Holmes and the April Holmes Foundation, follow her at  @AprilHolmes and like her on Facebook

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