After the 2024 Summer Olympics wrap up in August, the Paralympics will take over Paris. Fort Myers resident David Prince is hoping to be there. He's been training for years to make it back to the Paralympics and cap off his running career with a gold.
Prince's childhood was tumultuous. Raised by religious missionaries, he moved from place to place, school to school. Prince spent most of his formative years in Mexico, where he became advanced in Spanish and would translate for his siblings. However, he felt like an outcast whenever he'd move. Couple that with some family troubles and Prince started making some bad decisions.
“The group that accepted me for who I was, they experimented," Prince said.
In school, Prince was skipping classes and failing others. He was a frequent drug user and a full-time drug dealer. By the time he was 18, Prince had dropped out of school completely and didn't see much in his future.
“You fall into it, and it’s really hard to drag yourself out of it," Prince said.
In 2002, Prince wanted to push the limits. So, one day on a whim, he bought a motorcycle. He had never driven one or even been on one. Today, Prince admits he had no right to be on a bike like that.
Prince's motorcycling career ended in less than a week. Five days after he bought the bike, he was driving through some backroads. He began to race a car, pushing the motorcycle upwards of 140 mph. Then, on one sharp turn, Prince's life completely changed. He crashed into a guardrail going over 100 mph. He skidded across the ground, helmet popped off. Prince broke his arm and completely severed his leg.
“Basically breaking my foot off with it still in my boot," Prince said.
Prince was put in a medically induced coma for a week. He was in critical condition and needed seven pints of blood. The doctors had to put a rod in Prince's arm and amputate his right leg from the knee down.
A little while later, Prince was sentenced to two months in jail for violating his probation. It was at this point that Prince's new life really began.
“I had to learn some pretty hard lessons," Prince said. "Jail definitely taught me I need to value my freedom.”
Prince turned to faith while in jail. He found a new sense of spirituality years after his parents traveled the world as religious missionaries. So, when he got out, Prince moved back in with his mother and promised her he'd convert his addictive, dark past into a promising bright future.
At the time Prince moved back in, his mom had a gym membership she wasn't using. She urged him to use it, which he obliged. It was the best decision he had ever made.
At the gym, Prince shifted his addiction from drugs to physical fitness. With just one leg, Prince was out lifting a good portion of the gym. He also got into swimming, biking and his true favorite exercise: running.
“The gym kind of became that safe place where I can go to breathe and by myself and focus on myself," Prince said.
For the past decade, Prince has been one of the fastest Paralympic runners in the world. He set three world records, won six world championships and brought home the bronze medal at the 2012 London Paralympics.
“I’m very thankful that I could have those experiences," Prince said.
Now, Prince is headed to his fourth Paralympic Track and Field Trials, where he will try to punch his ticket to his third and final games.
“I would love, love to go to Paris and compete," Prince said. "I would do very well.”
Paris would be another stop on Prince's wild ride of life, and it's only possible because he forgave himself.
“Forgiving yourself for mistakes is the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do in your life," Prince said.
The U.S. Paralympic Track and Field Trials take place at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, from July 18-20.