Instagram story viewer> @team_catapult> Posts

Team Catapult

@team_catapult

6.4K

followers

5665

following

501(c)(3) non-profit aiming to CATAPULT physically challenged athletes over adversity and into endurance sports.
#teamcatapult

POSTS STORIES REELS

Meet Andrea! At 12 years old she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma which led to the amputation of her left leg above the knee. She never imagined that one day she would become a competitive athlete, but that is exactly what happened.

“In 2025, I began my Run Again Diaries journey, challenging myself to run. Initially, I struggled with distance running, but in early 2026, I discovered sprinting—and that discovery opened a door I never expected. I learned about para-athletics, received my T63 classification, and began pursuing my dream of competing at the LA 2028 Paralympic Games in the women’s 100-meter dash, while also competing in shot put.”

Andrea heard about Team Catapult and our Welcome to Running Camp through other amputees who had been following her journey. They saw her openly sharing frustrations about not having access to the resources, support and financial assistance she needed to pursue her goals.

At camp she learned all about running on different terrains, challenged the limits she set on herself, and found a community of like-minded athletes that made her feel less alone. She formed core memories and left camp with a group of friends that felt more like family.

“If you want to build confidence—not just in yourself, but in yourself as an adaptive athlete—you NEED to attend Welcome to Running Camp!

Outside running, Andrea is someone who genuinely loves serving others and being involved in her church and community. When she isn’t training you can find her spending time wither her family and friends or hanging out with her dog, Cali.

Although her journey hasn’t been easy, every challenge has taught her about perseverance, faith and the importance of community. For Andrea running is about much more than speed or crossing a finish line, “It’s about honoring the little girl who survived cancer, pushing beyond what I once believed was possible, and showing others that a diagnosis or disability doesn’t have to define our limits or our dreams.”

Andrea’s current goal— to train hard and put up some incredible times at track meets leading up to team selection for the World Championships or Parapan Games.

We are honored to be a small part of her journey! by @team_catapult

Join the Sports Authority Foundation for our "Adapted Sports Day: Welcome to Para Sports", a day dedicated to creating access, building confidence, and celebrating inclusion through the power of sport.

Through our Abilities in Motion program, participants of all ages will have the opportunity to experience a variety of adapted and Paralympic sports, connect with community resources, and discover new possibilities in an inclusive and welcoming environment.

🌟 Featuring Paralympian gold medalists, special guests, exciting sports demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more!

📅 Saturday, December 12, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 3:15 PM
📍 Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA
🎟️ FREE and open to the public!

🔗 Register today: link in bio! by @team_catapult

In 2026, we welcomed 22 athletes to our Welcome to Running Camp, supported by 27 sighted guides, volunteers, and coaches. Over three days, athletes strengthened their skills, learned from experienced coaches, and built lasting friendships.⁠
⁠
“You won’t leave camp the same way you arrived. You’ll leave with a new perspective, greater confidence, and a stronger belief in yourself as an athlete. Welcome to Running Camp will change the way you approach running—and what you believe is possible moving forward.”⁠
⁠
— Andrea Meza, Camp Athlete⁠
⁠
A huge thank you to our sponsors, @brooksrunning, @mstrategicpartners, and @campolympia1968, for helping make this weekend possible! And thank you to @endless__fitness for leading our strength training sessions.⁠
⁠
⁠📸 by @patpressphoto
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#brooksrunning #campolympia #adaptiveathlete #teamcatapult #awd by @team_catapult

Meet Noe!⁠
⁠
A longtime Team Catapult runner, Noe got his start in running when his son was playing soccer. Back then, he could barely run half a mile without struggling. As he built up his endurance, he decided he wanted to run the Chevron Houston Marathon. He was introduced to Team Catapult in 2021 through his daughter, Celi, who had learned about the group. They met at the Chevron Marathon Kickoff, and the rest is history!⁠
⁠
For Noe, Team Catapult has become so much more than a running group. It’s a family. When asked what he loves most about being a Catapult athlete, he says, “They help me reach my goals.”⁠
⁠
And he certainly has some big goals! Noe is working toward completing all six of the original World Marathon Majors and earning his coveted Six Star Medal. He recently checked another race off his list with a finish at the Chicago Marathon, bringing him one star closer to that dream. Berlin and London are the two still waiting for him!⁠
⁠
This past April, he ran his favorite marathon to date: the prestigious Boston Marathon. What made the race so special wasn’t just the marathon itself. It was the fact that his daughter ran alongside him as his guide, while his son-in-law served as his second guide. Together, as a family, they crossed the historic finish line.⁠
⁠
Noe is a regular at our weekly workouts at Memorial Park. Reflecting on what the group means to him, he shares, “I appreciate all the love and support Catapult gives, from grant money and shoes to the camaraderie I’ve gained.”⁠
⁠
We look forward to seeing Noe earn his Six Star Medal, and we’ll be with him every step of the way!⁠
⁠ by @team_catapult

I had the privilege of capturing Team Catapult’s annual Welcome to Running camp, where adaptive athletes, guides, and coaches come together to learn, build trust, and share the joy of running.

From developing running form to helping guides better support athletes with visual impairments, this weekend creates space for people to start, return, and grow in the sport—with a community beside them.

Thank you @team_catapult for breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for more people to experience everything running can offer. And to the athletes, guides, coaches, and volunteers: thank you for letting me capture a small part of your story.

Thank you to everyone that makes this possible @brooksrunning @fleetfeethouston @team_catapult

Follow @team_catapult to learn how you can support their work or get involved. by @team_catapult

Meet Olga! In 2015, Olga’s life changed forever when she became an amputee after developing blood clots. At the time she was struggling with addiction, diabetes, and her overall health. She was unemployed, living with her parents, and receiving government assistance.

Losing her leg became the beginning of a completely different life. Nine months after losing her leg, she received her first prosthesis. Eventually, Olga began working for a prosthetic company as a Patient Advocate, helping other amputees navigate the same journey she had experienced.

In 2024, Olga had to ask herself a difficult question: “How can I advocate for my patients if I’m not even advocating for myself?” At the time she was overweight, not exercising, and struggling to manage her health. In 2025 she decided to make a change. Her boss encouraged her to join Team Catapult. She did and she has never looked back.

Today, Olga is a regular on the trails at Memorial Park alongside other adaptive athletes. She is an inspiration for new Catapult athletes and welcomes everyone into the group with open arms.

“I go for the people. The exercise is just a side effect.”

For Olga, Catapult is about so much more than fitness. When asked what makes the group special, she answered that it was Catapult’s Executive Director, Patrick Pressgrove, and all the volunteers. “What I enjoy most is the community and the support. I get to surround myself with excellence, people who refuse to be victims of circumstance and are always striving to be better. These are extraordinary people doing hard things! Everyone pushes you, believes in you, and becomes your biggest cheerleader.”

Now she’s training for our Welcome to Running Camp, working toward a HYROX in 2027, and trying to stay healthy and strong for her future grandchild.

Olga believes her life is a second chance and she wants to use it to help more people in the amputee community discover what they are capable of.

Olga’s message to anyone who needs to hear it:

There is always a way.
I can do hard things.
It’s never too late.
My best days are still ahead of me.

We’re incredibly grateful that Olga’s journey brought her to Team Catapult. by @team_catapult

Team Catapult is proud to be one of the beneficiaries of this year’s Tellepsen Goes All In Poker Tournament on October 29! Come out for this friendly yet competitive Texas Hold'em tournament, great food and drinks, auction prizes, and networking opportunities. ⁠
⁠
We’re grateful to Tellepsen for supporting adaptive sports and our mission. ⁠
⁠
Get your tickets through the link in our bio!⁠ by @team_catapult

This past weekend our Team Catapult athlete Weber and his guide Bruce tackled the Lago Mar Sprint Triathlon! This was Weber’s first triathlon, but we bet it won’t be his last.

⁠@amazon continues to support Catapult through August. Shop on Amazon.com/running. #sponsored by @team_catapult

Meet Our Athlete, Jason! In January 2026, a rare sarcoma led to a life-changing below-the-knee amputation. But rather than letting amputation slow him down, Jason found a new drive to keep moving, stay active, and push himself further than he ever had before. That journey eventually led him to Team Catapult.⁠
⁠
When he first started, he was making his way up and down the Memorial Park trail on one foot with two forearm crutches. Today, his goal is to start running and eventually build up to running a few miles. He knows there is still training ahead, but he also knows he has a team behind him that believes those goals are possible.⁠
⁠
What makes Team Catapult special to Jason is the people. When asked what he enjoys most about being a Team Catapult athlete, he said, “Being a Catapult athlete has shown me how to push it further than what I limit myself to, and I don’t think anyone else would have helped with that the way Catapult does.” He also says that everyone checks in, and it feels like he’s had lifelong friends from the start.⁠
⁠
Outside of Catapult, Jason loves spending time with his family, making memories with his sons, working out with his wife, and staying as active as possible. He also hopes to become an advocate for amputees and bring greater awareness to sarcomas, using his own experience to remind others going through something similar that they are not alone.⁠
⁠
For Jason, being a Catapult athlete isn’t just about how far he can go. It’s about discovering that he can go farther than he ever thought possible—and helping others believe they can, too.⁠
⁠
⁠@amazon continues to support Catapult through August. Shop on Amazon.com/running. #sponsored
⁠
#HouAWD #amputeeathlete #adaptivesports #adaptiveathlete by @team_catapult

Last month we hosted a Guide Clinic to provide hands-on training for new and experienced guides.⁠
⁠
Our Guide Clinics are a great way to start your journey with Team Catapult and give attendees the tools, training, and confidence they need to get started.⁠
⁠
We’re incredibly grateful for all of our amazing guides and loved welcoming new faces who are ready to support our mission. ⁠
⁠
Ready to join the team? Our next Guide Clinic is October 3rd! Register through the link in our bio. 🔗⁠
⁠
@amazon continues to support Catapult through August. Shop on Amazon.com/running. #sponsored
⁠
📸 by @patpressphoto
⁠
#TeamCatapult #GuideClinic #guiderunner adaptiveathlete by @team_catapult