Tragedy to Paralympic Triumph
Meet Tanner Gers, Tanner shares his story of perseverance through four brain surgeries after a severe car wreck that gave him more than hope but the courage to keep going when most would give up much less inspire them to graduate college and pursue Olympic dreams and business ventures.
“Why is the wrong question, start asking yourself what?”
“Make plans like an adult, and believe them like a child.”
Tanner was an All-American kid growing up, excelling in school and sports, but On March 28, 2004, this All-American life should have ended during a tragic auto accident. That day, a tree shot through Tanner’s windshield, causing a traumatic brain injury, fracturing his spinal column, blowing his eye out of the socket, leaving a massive hole in his face and skull, and even with his brain exposed to the air, Tanner miraculously survived. While emergency services wrote Tanner off, he fought over 75 minutes until he made it to the hospital. His situation worsened when 19 days later, he woke up from surgery totally blind.
The biggest tragedy in Tanner’s life wasn’t losing his sight. It was not taking every day by the horns and living life to the fullest like he does today. Since coming out of that life storm, Tanner has graduated from college, started business ventures in food service, sales, health, and fitness, consulting, professional speaking, and has been featured in media outlets such as SportingNews.com, CEO Powercast, Superhuman Entrepreneur, and Unstoppable Success Radio. Holding a degree in Business, he consults and speaks for corporate, educational, and organizational clients to improve performance, leadership, health, and bottom line results. Giving back and supporting the community is a high priority for Tanner, which is why he has worked with disabled youth and adults through various organizations such as Easter Seals, the Foundation for Blind Children, US Veterans Affairs, and Wounded Warriors.
While Tanner has been building businesses, he’s also been building himself as an athlete. His athletic achievements include being the 2011 Para Pan American gold medalist, 2012 US Paralympic trials gold medalist, 2012 Paralympian, and a 2013 World Championship team member in track and field, 2-time National Beep Baseball Association World Series Offensive MVP, and 5-time Offensive All-Star, as well as the 2015 US National Champion in track cycling.
For more on Tanner go to http://creativesuccessshow.com