Nico Calabria - US Mens Amputee Soccer Team - High School Teacher - Coach

Nico Calabria is the captain of the U.S. Men's Amputee Soccer Team and a lifelong amputee. Being born with one leg and hip, Nico learned to walk on a prosthetic but soon learned that forearm crutches would offer greater mobility. This turned out to be a lucky coincidence, as amputee soccer is played entirely on forearm crutches. Starting around five years old, Nico began playing soccer and a handful of other sports with his able-bodied peers. Into his high school years, Nico competed on the Concord Carlisle Varsity Soccer Team in Concord, MA, and also placed third in the state in wrestling. After playing in his first amputee soccer match against Mexico in 2011, Nico soon rose to the rank of captain and has led the team to top twenty finishes at the last two World Cups. With 17 international goals, Nico is the all-time leading goal scorer for the United States. Today, Nico teaches high school history and coaches high school wrestling and soccer. He also hopes to build a regional amputee soccer team in the Boston area to support the growth of a youth amputee soccer program in the United States.