October, 2004

SPOT would like to congratulate Marlon Shirley for winning his second gold medal in the 2004 Paralympic Games; he earned his first gold in the 2000 Sydney Games. Shirley retained his title as "The World's Fastest Amputee," sprinting the 100 meter in 11.08 seconds. He also brought home a silver and a bronze in the 200 meter and long jump, respectively.

Jim Liston CP FAAOP fit Shirley with his first running leg seven years ago. "I remember aligning his prosthesis at the track when Marlon ran a 100 meters in just under 12 seconds. It was at that moment, that I knew I was working with somebody who was going to be a star athlete. I didn't know of any amputees who could run that fast," recalls Liston, with pride. The whole office followed Shirley's successes and watched him step into the limelight. "We went from seeing him in the office to seeing his face in the newspaper, on television, and most recently at Home Depot and McDonald's," recalls Liston.

Early on, SPOT and Flex-Foot both believed in Shirley's dreams and donated their product and efforts to help him succeed. At the time, helping Shirley reach his full potential meant fitting him with a 100 percent carbon fiber leg, half the weight of his old one, and designing a prosthesis that would store and release energy to allow him more speed.

Even back then, Shirley's drive and raw commitment were obvious. "My goal right now is to break the world record in as many events as I can, competing against disabled athletes in the Paralympics," he had told Liston. Shirley is accomplishing that and more. He was the first amputee to run a 100-meter in under 11 seconds, which he did at the Utah Summer Games. He currently lives in Chula Vista, California near the U.S. Olympic Committee training center, where he trains and competes with some of the world's fastest able-bodied sprinters.

As Shirley's momentum propels him forward, the staff back at SPOT remembers the kid who had the desire, drive, and maturity to realize his dreams and to make them a reality. But it is not only high-level athletes who pursue success with SPOT's help. "Marlon is an exceptional athlete, but we take just as much pride and enjoyment in seeing our other clients excel by gaining more comfort, mobility and ultimately a higher quality of life," says Liston. With 15-years of experience and the most-up-to-date technology available, SPOT is able to tailor its services to meet the unique needs and desires of each client.

"We are committed to improving the quality of life for all our clients," says prosthetist Jim Liston. "We want them to know that being an amputee doesn't mean a life of pain or limitations—far too many amputees make this assumption."

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