{"id":14539,"date":"2025-06-24T23:57:37","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T16:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=14539"},"modified":"2025-06-24T23:57:37","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T16:57:37","slug":"why-double-amputee-golfer-jordan-thomas-is-teeing-off-for-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=14539","title":{"rendered":"Why Double-Amputee Golfer Jordan Thomas Is Teeing Off for Change"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Golf enthusiast Jordan Thomas was just 16 years old in 2005 when a tragic boating accident changed his life forever. It was during a family scuba diving trip in the Florida Keys that the young man was dragged into the boat\u2019s powerful propellers, resulting in the loss of both of his legs from below the knee.<\/p>\n<p>Refusing to be defined by his disability, however, Thomas not only returned to the golf course before he could even walk with prosthetics, but the tenacious teenager also set up a charitable foundation from his hospital bed, giving himself a new life-mission: to support those who couldn\u2019t afford prosthetics but were let down by insurance companies.<\/p>\n<p>Now readying for the <a href=\"https:\/\/championships.usga.org\/usadaptiveopen.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025 U.S Adaptive Open<\/a>, this highly inspirational figure talks to M&amp;F about his physical and mental recovery through sport, and his unwavering desire to help others in similar situations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__thumbnail\" href=\"https:\/\/www.muscleandfitness.com\/routine\/golf\/pga-tour-champ-justin-thomas-golf-workouts-solid-core-and-total-body-muscle\/\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.muscleandfitness.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/justin-thomas-workout-main-1.jpg?w=150&amp;h=84&amp;crop=1&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, 280px\" alt=\"Justin Thomas of the United States plays a tee shot on the seventh hole during the second round of the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship at Club de Golf Chapultepec on March 3, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. \" width=\"150\" height=\"84\" data-fallback-img=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.muscleandfitness.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/justin-thomas-workout-main-1.jpg?quality=86&amp;strip=all\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Just nine days following his life-altering accident, Jordan Thomas was already focusing on a nonprofit foundation to procure prosthetic limbs for those in need. \u201cI\u2019m a bit of a disruptor,\u201d he tells M&amp;F. \u201cI think that the status quo is broken in terms of how we treat children with limb loss.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite the tragic loss of his own legs, Thomas says that he always understood he was in a state of privilege because his family were able to support him financially, while others who rely on the system are often failed. Today, the <a href=\"https:\/\/jordanthomasfoundation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jordan Thomas Foundation<\/a> has gone from strength-to-strength and has supported more than 200 children, raising over $10 million, in order to provide physical and mental support to those who have lost limbs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUltimately, it all comes down to insurance companies that don\u2019t cover prosthetics,\u201d explains Thomas of his motivation. \u201cBecause at the end of the day, they don\u2019t want to pay for the prosthetics, and so they\u2019ll say things like, \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/mollybohannon\/2024\/12\/05\/deny-defend-depose-what-to-know-about-words-reportedly-on-shell-casings-tied-to-unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Oh, it\u2019s not medically necessary that this child have a prosthesis to run<\/a>\u2019. But I can\u2019t think of a more necessary thing in a child\u2019s life than to be able to run as a child. The impact that being sedentary can have on mental health, physical health, well-being, and social connection is incredible,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>So not only is Thomas engaged in fundraising to plug the gaps that insurance companies fail to address, but he\u2019s also calling for changes in political policy too, to force financial support via legislation. \u201cIt\u2019s maddening,\u201d he shares. \u201cInsurance companies need to cover this.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Jordan Thomas Reclaimed His Physical and Mental Health Through Golf<\/h2>\n<p>To reclaim an important part of his old life while building his foundation and working on his own mental health, Thomas first returned to the golf course in a wheelchair \u201cto get into a golf cart and just get driven around because it\u2019s a space for me that\u2019s familiar and comfortable and safe,\u201d he reflects.<\/p>\n<p>Still, it wouldn\u2019t be long before Thomas was vertical again. \u201cUltimately, we as humans have this incredible ability to adapt,\u201d he explains. \u201cMy accident was on August 16, 2005, and I walked again on October 14. I mean, I started with just chipping the golf ball 5 yards because I felt like I was on stilts trying to find my balance again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, Thomas did find his balance, and once he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.muscleandfitness.com\/workouts\/full-body-exercises\/the-best-exercises-for-a-powerful-and-precise-golf-swing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">re-mastered his swing<\/a>, his game continued to soar. To find his golf footing, Thomas explains that he had to relearn everything from walking the terrain of a golf course on prosthetics to figuring out his weight distribution when making strokes. To that end, Thomas used technology like weighted sensors to perfect his stance.<\/p>\n<p>Now a top-ranked adaptive golfer, Thomas came fifth overall in the inaugural <a href=\"https:\/\/www.athleteswithoutlimits.org\/event\/2022-u-s-adaptive-open-golf-championships#:~:text=July%2018%2C%202022%20%2D%20July%2020%2C%202022&amp;text=%E2%80%9CThe%20USGA%20has%20established%20the,July%2018%2D20%2C%202022.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Adaptive Open in 2022<\/a>. Last year, he came second in his impairment category (G3 impairment in both legs), and in 2025 he is looking to return to the Open after becoming the first double amputee ever to qualify for the Tennessee State Amateur.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption \">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:55.36519386835%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.muscleandfitness.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Prosthetic-golfer-Justin-Thomas-encouraging-a-child-with-prosthetic-limbs.jpg?quality=86&amp;strip=all\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" alt=\"Prosthetic golfer Justin Thomas encouraging a child with prosthetic limbs\" width=\"1109\" height=\"614\" data-fallback-img=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.muscleandfitness.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Prosthetic-golfer-Justin-Thomas-encouraging-a-child-with-prosthetic-limbs.jpg?quality=86&amp;strip=all\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"credit\">Hannah Morgan\/Griffin Road Media\/Adobe Stock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The Jordan Thomas Foundation is Changing Lives<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m feeling really good with where my game is, and I\u2019m actually going to DC. Tomorrow, to play the golf course, to have a look at it before the Open kicks off in July,\u201d he tells <em>M&amp;F.<\/em> \u201cBut yeah, I feel pretty good about my chances. I feel good about where my game is, and I hope to have some success.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Still, despite those hopes of medals, Thomas says that golf is primarily a way for the change-maker to raise awareness for the essential work that the foundation does to support those that the financial companies continue to let down.<\/p>\n<p>Through the Jordan Thomas Foundation, he\u2019s also able to create events that bring kids outdoors and see what\u2019s possible when the human spirit is willing. Still, the athlete explains that providing support isn\u2019t about necessarily creating the next paralympian. \u201cI think one of the most powerful things that I\u2019m most proud of is that we had a girl that took the first step of her life with a prosthetic that was secured through the foundation,\u201d beams Thomas. \u201cShe also used a prosthetic from the foundation to walk across her high school stage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There is no doubt that Jordan Thomas has become a hero on and off the golf course, and it\u2019s easy to see why his mantra of \u201cPress On!\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GXKduYJ-FUo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">saw him become nationally recognized as a CNN Hero among<\/a> many other well-deserved accolades. \u201cI\u2019ve found a purpose,\u201d says the unassuming hero, proudly. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t doubt why I exist on this planet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/jordanthomasfoundation.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">To find out more about the Jordan Thomas Foundation, now celebrating it\u2019s 20th year of service, click here!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.muscleandfitness.com\/athletes-celebrities\/interviews\/why-double-amputee-golfer-jordan-thomas-is-teeing-for-change\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Golf enthusiast Jordan Thomas was just 16 years old in 2005 when a tragic boating accident changed his life forever. It was during a family scuba diving trip in the Florida Keys that the young man was dragged into the boat\u2019s powerful propellers, resulting in the loss of both of his legs from below the &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fitness"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14539"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14539\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}