Rave Speakers is proud to represent Resilience and Overcoming Adversity keynote speaker Anthony Robles. On July 20, 1988, Judy Robles gave birth to a baby boy, and the doctors weren’t prepared for what they saw: a newborn missing his right leg. They couldn’t explain why it happened or what went wrong. But my mom, always the strong and unwavering believer, told me growing up that “God made you this way for a reason” — and she made me believe it. It wasn’t until I was 14, in Mesa, Arizona, that I started to understand that reason. I tried out for the wrestling team, and my first year was a struggle. I was the smallest kid at only 90 pounds, and without a doubt, the worst wrestler, ending the year with a 5-8 record and finishing last at the Mesa City Wrestling Tournament. People didn’t think a tiny kid, born with one leg, could ever make it in a tough, physical sport like wrestling. But my family and coaches saw something in me. They believed in me, and I began to believe, too. I believed I could be a champion. I believed I could be UNSTOPPABLE. Despite the obstacles, I transformed. By the time I reached my junior and senior years at Mesa High, I had a perfect 96-0 record, was a 2-time Arizona State Champion, and became a high school National Champion. But even with that impressive record, most college wrestling programs didn’t think I could compete at the next level. They said I was too small, too different, that a one-legged wrestler couldn’t possibly keep up with the nation’s best. But my mom raised me to dream big, to believe there were no limits. With that mindset, I walked onto the Arizona State University wrestling team, determined to prove everyone wrong, including myself. Through countless challenges, both on and off the mat, I earned my place. I became a 3-time All-American and a 2011 NCAA National Champion. Though my competitive wrestling days are behind me, I’ll continue to face life’s challenges with the same spirit. I’ll keep wrestling against whatever comes my way, knowing deep down that no matter what, I am UNSTOPPABLE.
