April Holmes

Biography

Raised with a hard work ethic, which she has honed with a will of steel, April Holmes has redefined what it means to be disabled. April was involved in a train accident in 2001 that resulted in the loss of her left leg below the knee. While she lay in her hospital bed, a doctor told her about the Paralympic Games and three
goals were firmly implanted in her mind. She desired to wear the USA uniform. She wanted to break world records. She was determined to win gold medals.
Since her career in Paralympic track and field began in 2002, Holmes has continued to succeed, improving each and every step of the way. She has broken IPC World Records fourteen times and American Records eighteen times in the 100, 200, 400 meters and the long jump. Over her astonishing career, April has put together several undefeated seasons, and her first Paralympic gold medal in the 100 meters at the 2008 Beijing Games. Speed and quickness are her best friends as she continues to break her own world records every season. With a commanding lead over the growing field of competitors, Holmes continues to captivate track enthusiast with her grace and style. April put on the USA uniform again at the 2012 Paralympics in London and after a photo finish was awarded bronze in the 100 meters in front of a sold-out arena. April spends the majority of her time training in Orlando at Disney Wide World of Sports with her eyes firmly set on winning more gold medals at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.
When she is not competing, April Holmes runs the April Holmes Foundation, Inc. a non-profit organization assisting people with physical and learning disabilities with scholarships and medical equipment. Having completed her MBA in Marketing, Holmes uses her education to improve the awareness of people with disabilities. April was recently named by the International Paralympic Committee as one of the “Top 10 Women in Paralympic Sport,” a US Paralympic and US Anti-Doping Ambassador, and has assisted First Lady Michelle Obama on the “Let’s Move” Campaign.
April is a well sought-after speaker and enjoys opportunities to share her life and GOLD medal with others. She has electrified audiences with messages of motivation, diversity, leadership, and marketing. Some of her clients include Deloitte, Disney, The Jordan Brand, The Hartford Insurance Company, Aflac, and BMW. April also assists companies in Olympic-themed sporting days to enhance the core values of teamwork, determination, discipline, and goal setting.
Given her expertise, education, and athletic achievements, Holmes has been featured on multiple media outlets including NBC Today Show, CBS Early Morning, Fox, ESPN,
BBC, Forbes, and Oprah’s O Magazine. “Communicating Your Greatness” remains a staple in her life, both on the track and in the corporate workspace.
You can connect with April Holmes at:
Aprilholmes.com
Facebook.com/FanofApril
Twitter.com/aprilholmes
Linkedin.com/in/aprilholmes