John Register showed an aptitude for athletics, eventually attending the University of Arkansas where he became a three-time All-American; once in the NCAA long jump and twice on the 4×400m relay teams. Upon completing a bachelor’s degree in communications in 1988, John enlisted in the U. S. Army where he served from 1988 to 1994. A Desert Shield and Desert Storm Veteran, John continued to pursue athletic excellence in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program winning 9 Gold medals in Armed Services Competition
John qualified for the 1988 Olympic trials in the 110m hurdles and again qualified in the 400m hurdles in 1992, with the promise that he may become a member of the 1996 Olympic Team. But on May 17, 1994 his life would be forever altered with one misstep over the hurdle. A faulty landing hyper-extended John’s left knee, resulting in an injury severing the popiliteal artery. An attempt to reconstruct the artery using a vein from his right leg failed; within days, gangrene turned the muscle black and amputation was suggested. With a strong faith in Christ and the support of his wonderful wife Alice, John chose amputation. Through the use of a prosthesis, he would walk again – and eventually run.
During his long journey to recovery, John began using sport as a conduit to rehabilitation. He began swimming for cardiovascular fitness. It was during the first few swim sessions with his personal coach that an inspiration to compete again was born. After only 18 months of rehabilitation and training, John qualified for and made the 1996 Paralympic Team as a swimmer, competing in the games in Atlanta, Georgia. Excited by seeing athletes with lower limb prosthesis at the 1996 Games, John set a goal of competing in track and field at the 2000 Paralympic Games, in Sydney, Australia. Two years after taking his first running step as an amputee, John earned the Silver Medal in the long jump at the 2000 Paralympic Games, setting the American long jump record in the process with a distance of 5.41 meters (18.4feet). John also sprinted to 5th place in both the 100 and 200m dashes.
John’s life has truly has come full circle in his transformation from All-American long jumper, to Paralympic Silver medalist. As an inspirational and motivational speaker, John uses lessons he has learned from his personal challenges as the focal point of his speaking engagements. His powerful keynote, “Hurdling Adversity,” challenges audiences young and old to unleash the inspiration in them.
John remained active with soldiers, first as a civilian employee of the Army working as a Sports Specialist with the Army’s World Class Athlete Program, then as a Program Specialist with the U. S. Army Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) Program at the Community and Family Support Center (CFSC) Headquarters. In 2003 he took a job with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and now manages the Paralympic Academy Youth Outreach Program, as well as directs the USOC’s Paralympic Military Programs, a program for service-members who return from conflict with physical disabilities.
