“Amazing Americans” is hosted by Jerry Schemmel and airs Saturday mornings on Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan from 8:00am-9:00am. Each week, Jerry Schemmel interviews different personalities from the world of sports who have incredible stories of inspiration. Athletes, coaches, broadcasters, all types of people from different areas of the sports community join Jerry to share their stories. Jerry Schemmel is one of the most recognizable broadcasting voices in Denver sports history, spending 10 seasons as the radio play-by-play voice of the Colorado Rockies. Prior to that, Schemmel was the radio and television voice of the Denver Nuggets for 18 years. Jerry is a survivor of the United Airlines Flight 232 that crashed in 1989 and took the lives of 112 people. Jerry chronicled this experience in the 1996 book, “Chosen to Live.” An avid bicyclist, Jerry rode across the country twice to raise funds for Colorado Children’s Hospital and HaitiChildren. He also spent the 2009 season as head baseball coach at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
He was born with both Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy, yet he has become a champion triathlete. And he does it all, these days, for other challenged athletes. Harvey Dawkins is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Motivated to help handicap kids, he started guiding them through triathlons. 12 years later, he has changed the lives of hundreds of young people. Dennis Vanderheiden is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He went from college football All-American, to War Hero, to NFL star. The incomparable Chad Hennings is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When he retired from his law practice, he decided to get adventurous. Adventurous, as in becoming the oldest American, at age 78, to climb Mt. Everest. Bill Burke is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He was a star football player for the CU Buffs, but later his life was shattered with the tragic death of his daughter. Barry Remington is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He is a former champion triathlete and today, he is dedicating his life to helping disabled athletes become champions. The head of the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Bob Babbitt, is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After a horrible car accident shattered his life, a former University of Colorado Quarterback is finding joy and meaning, today, coaching high school baseball. John Hessler is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He survived four separate bouts with cancer and then a heart transplant. But then, he became the first heart transplant recipient to tackle the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon. Kyle Garlett is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He had no intention of ever playing college basketball. But he was spotted at an intramural game, invited to be on the team, and then became one of the best players ever at Colorado State. Adam Nigon is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
She is the greatest ultra distance swimmer in history. But perhaps her greatest victory is beating cancer. Sarah Thomas is this week's guest on Amazing Americans See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
She was an aspiring athlete and a freshman All-American volleyball player. But she quit the game and fell into a nearly 20 year battle with drugs and alcohol. Today she is clean and sober - and helping others with the same addictions. Micah Smith is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
She is one of the best senior level cyclists in history. She owns three world records. But perhaps most impressive is her work with cancer victims. Julie Lyons is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He was one of the premier running backs in the NFL. In the prime of his career, at age 28, he walked away from the game. And for a very good reason. Napoleon Kauffman is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After his son died in a plane crash, he got on his bicycle and made some incredible discoveries. The Executive Director of the College Football Playoff, Bill Hancock, is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He is known as the greatest college basketball coach of all time. Among his many accomplishments are an incredible eight national championships in a span of 10 seasons. As told by a family member, John Wooden's story is featured on this week's edition of Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He was a champion MMA Fighter - but gave it all up to help dig water wells in Africa for the poorest if the poor. Justin Wren is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He is the greatest marathoner in American history. He won the Boston Marathon four times and the New York City Marathon four times. No one else has even come close. Running legend Bill Rodgers is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He was one of the best MLB umpires ever. He got thousands of calls right, but everyone seems to remember one call he got wrong. And almost no one seems to remember a life he saved before a game. Jim Joyce is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On a dare from her brother, she climbed Mount Everest. But she didn't stop, becoming one of the greatest female mountain climbers in history. Kim Hess is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He is a former college basketball player who traded his sports life for one of giving hope to the very hopeless. Bryan Sederwall is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
She is one of the most iconic female sports figures in American history. She was an Olympian at age 13 and gold medalist at 17. She then went on to a 40 year sportscasting career. The timeless Donna De Varona is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
She had surgery to fix a hole in her heart - and then survived a horrible bike accident. She recovered from both and went on to set no fewer than 11 cycling world records. Amanda Coker is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cancer took his left arm and his NFL career but he refused to let it take his incredible zest for life. Former Philadelphia Eagle Kevin Reilly is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He found himself obese and in poor health, when he began a running program. It led to his completing one of the world's most challenging athletic endeavors. Jason Cohen is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
She is one of the greatest athletes in U.S. history - the only American woman to win an Olympic medal in both the Summer Games and the Winter Games. Lauryn Williams is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He was one of America's very best college Rugby players when he was completely paralyzed in the national championship match and told he would never walk again. He didn't listen. Robert Paylor is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He was an extremely successful ultra distance runner until a massive heart attack appeared to take his life, but when they went to pull the plug he was still functioning. Now, he is running again. Jeremiah Galyon is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He has almost 1,200 NBA coaching wins, but perhaps most impressive is his 3-0 record against cancer. George Karl is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After being diagnosed with MS, he is doing something extraordinary for other MS victims. Gene Caffrey is this week's guest on Amazing Americans.... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He's a professional soccer player who had his career interrupted - with a massive heart attack. Drew Beckie tells his incredible story of survival - and comeback - as this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Like so many other riders, he was caught in professional cycling's doping scandal. Now he is spending the rest of his life paying for his cycling sins. Tyler Hamilton is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
To help deal with the grief from the death of her teenage son, she took up cycling and then became the greatest American female masters cyclist in history. The incredibly brave and inspiring Nancy Guth is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He was one of the top middle distance runners in the country - a great bet to make the U.S . Olympic team until his life was forever changed by a hit and run driver. Steve Heidenreich is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On a whim, she walked on to her college rowing team. And then became one of the most multi-faceted and successful endurance athletes in the world. Jennifer Strong is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's an impressive feat to climb Mt. Everest, but it's extraordinary to do at age 13. Jordan Romero is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
At the age of 20, he went from 20/20 vision to being legally blind. But two years after that, he became a world champion golfer. Jeremy Poincenot is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He is considered the greatest fan in the history of Purdue University Basketball. He's also a Holocaust survivor. Mickey Kor's story, as told by his son, is featured this week on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After failing twice attempting to finish the Race Across America, he made it on his third attempt and made cycling history. Colorado resident Eric Newsholme is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After his career in the NFL, he decided not to live the typical retired life. Instead, he became a mountain climber. And one of the best in the world. Mark Pattison is Jerry Schemmel's guest this week on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Despite the race director attacking her on the course, she completed the race, becoming the first woman to officially finish the Boston Marathon. And opened the door for millions of female runners. Katherine Switzer is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As a world class triathlete in the 1980's, he treasured the thrill of competing in the sport and is now spending the rest of his life helping the physically challenged do the same thing. Bob Babbitt is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He became a star as an MMA and UFC fighter. But after a six year battle with substance abuse, he found his purpose in one of the poorest countries in the world. Justin Wren is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What has always been known is that he is one of America's greatest distance runners. But what hasn't been known, until now, is the dark childhood at the hands of a brutally abusive father. Frank Shorter is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It is the ultimate story of brotherly love. One brother is completely disabled, but the two of them together are athletic champions. Kyle & Brent Pease are this week's guests on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11 years ago, she rowed her boat, solo, across the Atlantic Ocean. And she was just 19 years old. Katie Spotz is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He was born in Iran to Muslim parents, but his incredible journey has taken him to college football player, to team Chaplain for the Denver Broncos. Reza Zeday is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
She is the first American to row a boat solo across the Atlantic Ocean and today she is a University President. The incredible Tori McClure is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He is one of the greatest endurance swimmers in American history. And every event, every stroke, is done for sick children. Darren Miller is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When his star athlete son passed away from substance abuse, he dedicated his life to keeping others from the same fate. Bob Chillemi is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
She is considered the greatest female endurance athlete in American history, but perhaps her greatest accomplishment is finding her father's burial site in Vietnam. Rebecca Rusch is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A diving accident paralyzed him - but wouldn't stop him from maneuvering his wheelchair across the United States. Former All American football player Janni Kouri is this week's guest on Amazing Americans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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