Angelina Martinson’s story is one of resilience, grit, and an unwavering commitment to pushing past limitations. Born in a small Russian town near the Black Sea, she entered the world with congenital conditions—clubfoot and tibial hemimelia—that significantly affected the structure of her legs. In a country where medical resources were scarce, her biological parents faced an impossible choice. They wanted nothing more than for their daughter to live a full and active life, but they knew that the treatment she needed wasn’t accessible in their town. With heavy hearts, they made the difficult decision to place her for adoption, hoping that a family elsewhere could provide the medical care and opportunities she deserved.
A Journey Across the World
At just two years old, Angelina met her soon-to-be adoptive family from the United States. But international adoptions are complex, and it took two more years before all the legalities were finalized. At four years old, she finally left Russia, embarking on a new life with her adoptive parents in the U.S.
By this time, however, the effects of untreated clubfoot had taken their toll. While many cases can be corrected with early intervention—such as braces, orthotics, and physical therapy—the prolonged lack of treatment meant that her leg was no longer salvageable. Her doctors, along with her adoptive parents, made the difficult decision to amputate.
For many, this might have seemed like the end of a dream—an insurmountable obstacle. But for Angelina, it was just the beginning.
A Childhood Without Limits
From the start, her adoptive parents made it clear that she was not to live a life of limitations. They encouraged her to participate in sports, refusing to let her see herself as “incapable” or believe she couldn’t compete. They instilled in her the belief that she could achieve anything—if she was willing to work for it.
Angelina’s childhood was filled with activity. She danced ballet, played soccer and basketball, and took up swimming. She never had the option to enroll in adaptive sports programs. Instead, she joined local teams, always the only adaptive athlete among her peers. She ran drills, trained, and competed alongside able-bodied children, constantly pushing herself to keep up. The experience wasn’t always easy—there were stares, awkward questions, and moments of self-doubt. Yet, every time she stepped onto the field, the court, or the pool deck, she proved to herself and everyone around her that she belonged.
Growing up near the water, Angelina developed a love for water sports, especially water skiing. This was where she and her father spent countless hours in the garage, modifying equipment and making adjustments to fit her active lifestyle. These hands-on experiences fueled her curiosity about engineering and inspired her to research the specific needs of adaptive athletes. She realized that accessibility wasn’t just about prosthetics—it was about innovation, creativity, and breaking barriers.
The isolation of being the only adaptive athlete wasn’t just on the field—it extended into her social world as well. The only times she saw other children with limb differences were during hospital visits, which were not always the most uplifting environments. It wasn’t until she was older that she was able to connect virtually with others like her. As online communities grew, so did opportunities for adaptive athletes to connect, support, and inspire one another. Today, these communities are expanding, creating spaces where inclusion is not just a goal but a reality.
From Embarrassment to Empowerment
But confidence wasn’t always easy. Growing up, Angelina—like many adaptive —struggled with feelings of embarrassment and insecurity. There were moments of self-doubt, times when she questioned whether she would ever truly fit in.
Yet, something shifted when she decided to own her story. Instead of hiding her amputation, she began sharing her experiences with others. She educated those around her, breaking down misconceptions and helping others understand that being different wasn’t something to be ashamed of—it was something to embrace.
In high school, she took her mission a step further by founding Adaptive Amputees, a platform where she could connect with others, share her journey, and encourage people with physical differences to choose life—to get out there, to move, and to experience all that the world had to offer. For Angelina, staying active wasn’t just about physical health; it was about mental strength. She believed that movement was key to overcoming not only physical obstacles but also emotional ones.
Finding Inspiration and Paying It Forward
Angelina wasn’t just an inspiration—she was also inspired by those who came before her. As a teenager, she had posters of elite adaptive athlete and veteran amputee Melissa Stockwell, who later founded Dare2tri, an organization dedicated to helping athletes with disabilities participate in triathlons. Seeing someone who had faced similar struggles yet achieved greatness ignited a fire in Angelina.
It was this very organization that encouraged her to take on her first triathlon, guiding her through the process and showing her that she belonged in the world of endurance sports. And when she crossed that finish line, she knew: she wasn’t just doing this for herself—she was doing it for every young amputee who needed to see what was possible.
Since then, she has completed three triathlons as an adult, proving that perseverance and grit define her journey. She is a force of nature, refusing to let anything hold her back.
The Challenge of Accessing Prosthetics
Despite her growing success in the world of adaptive athletics, Angelina faced a major obstacle: access to proper prosthetics.
Most people don’t realize that a standard prosthetic leg is not designed for sports. Running, swimming, and other athletic pursuits require specialized prosthetics, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Insurance companies, however, rarely cover these types of prosthetics, viewing them as “non-essential.”
For many adaptive athletes, this creates a devastating roadblock. Staying active isn’t just about recreation—it’s about physical and mental well-being. Yet, the financial burden prevents countless amputees from accessing the tools they need to live a fully active life.
Engineering a Better Future
Determined to be part of the solution, she pursued a career in biomedical engineering—with a specific focus on prosthetic technology. She worked in prosthetic research at the University of Washington, helping to develop more advanced and accessible prosthetic solutions for adaptive athletes.
Her work brought awareness to the challenges amputees face and contributed to advancements in prosthetic innovation. But she didn’t stop there.
As a child, she had been fortunate to receive care from Shriners Hospitals for Children, a non-profit healthcare system that provides specialized pediatric care regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Shriners played a significant role in her journey, offering prosthetic fittings, rehabilitation, and support services that helped her navigate life as an amputee. They never asked for insurance or payment—just the opportunity to change lives.
Today, Angelina is passionate about advocating for organizations like Shriners, ensuring that children with limb differences get the resources they need without financial barriers.
Life Today: Engineering, Marriage, and Continuing to Inspire
Angelina Martinson is proof that challenges do not define us—our response to them does. She has turned obstacles into opportunities, setbacks into stepping stones, and self-doubt into unshakable confidence.
And through it all, she continues to do what she has always done best: move forward.
Angelina’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of pushing past limits. As an Asé Pure Naturals Athlete, she embodies the spirit of perseverance, proving that challenges are meant to be conquered. At Asé Pure Naturals, we celebrate athletes like Angelina who inspire others to keep moving, keep striving, and never back down. Her story is a reminder that with the right mindset, anything is possible.
