Game Changers: Incredible Stories of Resilience in Sports
The Game Changers Podcast includes conversations with athletes and coaches exploring the triumphs and tribulations in sports. We uncover the untold stories of glory and defeat and how it defined our guests' journeys. From overcoming setbacks to achieving extraordinary feats, each show will bring the listener inspiring tales of resilience that extends beyond the scoreboard.
Whether it's a comeback from injury, a stunning victory or the lessons learned in defeat, Game Changers is your front row seat to the indomitable human spirit in the arena of sports and performance.
Game Changers: Incredible Stories of Resilience in Sports
The Incredible Story of College Lax & Paralympian Noelle Lambert (and Carly O'Connell) S2 Episode 2
Today is a very special and unique episode of the Game Changer’s podcast because we are bringing together two separate guests who share one incredible story.
Noelle Lambert was an exceptional Division 1 lacrosse player at University of Massachusetts Lowell and Carly O’Connell who was also an exceptional college lacrosse player in her day at University of Oregon was hired to the UMass Lowell lacrosse staff in 2016. In the summer between her freshman and sophomore year in 2016, Noelle was in a moped accident and lost her leg above the knee.
This story is about the incredible bond between a player and her coach and the insane comeback that they worked on together defying all odds. Noelle’s tenacity, grit and determination along with Carly’s commitment, courage and drive to push Noelle outside her comfort zone was a Blueprint for Resilience and Glory. Today, they each tell the story from their own perspective of how Noelle got back on the college lacrosse field and what Carly had to do to ensure that she was ready.
With a year of learning how to walk and then run and then figure out how to play lacrosse at a very competitive level, Noelle did get back on the field and scored a goal in her first game back making her the first above-knee amputee to play a Division 1 college sport. She graduated and went on to become a Paralympian having competed in the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo and the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
Noelle is the founder of The Born to Run Foundation which provides specialized prosthetics so young amputees can run again.
Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Game Changers. We hope you found inspiration and motivation in the stories of resilience and adversity shared by our incredible guests. Remember, no matter what challenges you face, your ability to overcome them lies within. Stay resilient and keep pushing forward towards your goals. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with others who may benefit from these powerful stories.