Adam Gorlitsky will be the first paralyzed man to walk the Los Angeles Marathon

Adam Gorlitsky believes that to continue inspiring others it’s important he consistently seeks inspiration of his own.

That’s not always easy. Gorlitsky was left paralyzed from a car accident 12 years ago but has since emerged as a leader in the community of re-enabled athletes. He’s traveled nearly 800,000 steps in the past couple of years with the help of a ReWalk robotic exoskeleton while also establishing the non-profit, I Got Legs, to help others achieve similar re-enablement.

Gorlitsky has conquered more than 20 road races spread across the nation, from his hometown Cooper River Bridge Run 10K to the Portlandathon half marathon in Oregon. He's even organized a couple of his own. He’s continuously raised the ante of his personal challenges alongside the increased momentum of his non-profit. So with so much already accomplished, what’s next?. “So there’s this re-walker, he uses the same exoskeleton that I do, and he walked the entire London Marathon. I thought it was incredible,” Gorlitsky said. “He and I have a little friendly rivalry on social media. So I decided I was going to one-up him and break his record on the biggest stage in the world.”

Gorlitsky will head to Hollywood in March to attempt to become the first paralyzed man to walk the Los Angeles Marathon. The 32-year-old former Wando athlete is aiming to beat the benchmark of 36 hours and 37 minutes that Simon Kindleysides set in the London Marathon last April. But it isn’t as much about the final time as it is about continuing forward step by step.

“If I’m going to do my first marathon, I wanted it to be on a stage like Los Angeles,” Gorlitsky said. “I like to constantly challenge myself. So Los Angeles will be a challenge for my own personal growth as human being but, in many ways, it’s the symbolic next step for the I Got Legs organization as well.”

Gorlitsky will use the Los Angeles Marathon as a public launch for I Got Legs’ Give Back Fund, which is already raising money for others with similar disabilities who seek the kind of treatment and technology that he’s received.

posted Wednesday January 23rd