33-year-old Zach Gowen may only have one leg, but he has proven time and time again that he will accomplish whatever he sets his mind to. Tonight, the former wrestling champ will be competing on Season 8 of American Ninja Warrior in Indianapolis.
Here’s what you need to know about him.
1. He Was Diagnosed with Cancer at Age 8
Zach Gowen was diagnosed with cancer at age 8. (Youtube/Screenshot)
At age 8, Gowen was diagnosed with cancer. By the time doctors found it in his limb, his only option was to have his leg amputated.
I didn’t understand the gravity of the situation. I didn’t realize how close to death I was, because at 8-years-old, I really didn’t understand the concept of death. All I knew was that I was in a ton of pain.
2. He Is a Former WWE Wrestler
Gowen made his WWE debut on March 15, 2003, in an episode of ‘SmackDown!’ (Instagram/zachgowen)
Gowen was professional wrestling’s first one-legged competitor, and competed for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He says that in the absence of his father and after the amputation of his leg, wrestling was the only thing that truly made him feel better.
He told Bleacher Report, “For those three hours, I didn’t feel any pain at all. I didn’t feel the pain of missing my leg. I didn’t feel the pain of cancer, of chemotherapy, of looking different, of not fitting in, of being sick. All of that went away when I engaged in the magic of professional wrestling.”
Gowen was just 16-years-old when he decided he wanted to become a professional wrestler, and the ring was his escape from the trauma he suffered in his youth. In 2003, Gowen signed a contract with the WWE, but within six months, they let him go. According to Bleacher, his signature move was the one-legged moonsault.
3. He’s Part of a Tag Team Called The Handicapped Heroes
After being let go from his contract with the WWE, Gowen turned to drugs and alcohol, “but soon found himself mentally and spiritually bankrupt”.
He and his friend, Gregory Iron, who suffers from cerebral palsy, joined together as the Handicapped Heroes, and won the Clash Tag Team Championship. The two not only wrestle together, but speak professionally at schools, work with anti-bullying campaigns, do philanthropic work with hospitals, and are being featured in a national TV news segment that is currently in production. Their website reads, “The Handicapped Heroes have been a tag team on the US and Canada independent wrestling scene for 3 years and have won the hearts of every audience they have performed in front of.”
I’ve had the gift of having cancer. The gift of losing my leg. The gift of almost losing my life to drug addiction and alcoholism. These are all gifts.
4. His Dad Left When He was 4 Years Old
Zach says he had a “not-so-great childhood”. (Youtube/Screenshot)
In a Youtube video entitled, ‘Most Inspirational Ninja Warrior Ever – Zach Gowen”, the athlete explains that his father took off when he was just four. Zach states, “He chose drugs and alcohol instead of being in the life of his son.”
5. He Applied For ‘American Ninja Warrior’ One Day After the Deadline Was Due
Tonight, Gowen will be competing in Indianapolis. (Instagram/ZachGowen)
Gowen says he used to get overwhelmed by the prospect of failure, and he was initially intimidated by the fact that he was accepted onto Season 8 of the show. He’s determined to put the pedal to the metal this season, though, and do whatever it takes to succeed.
Gowen attended Eastern Michigan University, where he studied Second Education and Math. He has one son, who was born in 2012.