Blake Haxton

In March of 2009, Blake Haxton was in his senior year of High School in Columbus, Ohio, when he contracted Necrotizing Fasciitis, more commonly called the flesh-eating disease. Over the course of three days, Haxton went from being the captain of his school’s rowing team and a division one rowing recruit to suffering major organ failure and the amputation of both of his legs. Haxton was released from the hospital after over twenty major surgeries and three months of inpatient care.

Life-threatening medical complications notwithstanding, Haxton enrolled at The Ohio State University the following fall and earned his B.S. in finance in 2013. Haxton then enrolled at the Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law and returned to the sport of rowing, making the U.S. National Team in the Arms and Shoulders single event. Haxton has made four consecutive U.S. Rowing Teams, including the 2016 Paralympic Team competing in Rio de Janeiro, where he placed 4th. After the Rio games, Haxton’s fellow Olympic teammates and coaches voted him the Male Athlete of the Year, making him the first-ever para-athlete to win the honor. Haxton returned to the Paralympics in 2020, securing silver in the Men's 200-Meter VL2 Final. Haxton is also a member of the 2024 Paracanoe team.

Haxton earned his law degree from Ohio State in 2016 and works as a Research Analyst for Brandywine Global Investment Management in Columbus, Ohio. He continues to train for international competitions in the Sprint Canoe event.