My name is William Lister III, but since I was a little kid I’ve been known to friends and family as Billy. I’m a retired United States Paralympian, a Wall Street veteran, and a distinguished nonprofit executive.
For the last 28 years, every minute of every day in my life has been defined by Stroke. It’s also been molded by the Challenges we all face. But in the end, my path in life has been anchored by the heart of a Champion.
I was only a freshman in High School when my world was shattered. A seemingly innocent search for the cause of severe headaches led to the discovery of an AVM attached directly to my brainstem. Faced with the flip of a coin 50/50 odds of survival, I underwent the experimental Gamma-Knife Radiosurgery in New York City. The year was 1998, and with little knowledge or understanding, I became one of the first Americans to receive Stereotactic Radiosurgery.
I always wanted to be unique, one-of-a-kind. Little did I know, my wish would be granted before I could even drive a car.
While the revolutionary procedure saved his life, the aftermath proved devastating. One month after my 17th birthday, my brain triggered a rare, slow, and regressive stroke that unfolded over an agonizing four weeks.
Day after day, for 30 straight days, I woke up and couldn’t do something I could the day before. Yes, I experienced a month-long Stroke.
The loss of my physical function wasn’t a high-speed crash or sudden burst of light. It was a painfully slow, methodical, destruction of my identity. I was only a teenager. The final aftermath was permanent hemiplegia on my entire left side, from hairline down to pinky toe.
I’m still just a child, where do I go from here? Will I ever be myself again?
Rather than succumb to the monumental grief of losing everything I thought my life was supposed to be, I forged a path defined by sheer, unwavering resilience. I refused to let my new reality dictate my potential. I built a highly successful career as an executive in commodities trading on Wall Street, navigating the relentless pace of New York City and fiercely dedicating myself to my professional ambitions. I met every obstacle head-on, continuously pushing forward, determined to prove that my physical limitations would never define me or slow me down.
At the age of 30, after thirteen years of sedentary paralysis, I found a new avenue for my boundless energy and drive. At a paratriathlon camp in San Diego, I threw my leg over a highly specialized time trial bicycle and rode a bike for the first time since my stroke. The feeling of freedom was instantaneous, wind rushing past my face, reigniting a spark I thought I’d lost forever. Channeling my relentless ambition into adaptive sports, I resigned from my corporate job, packed my entire life into my car, and moved to the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO.
I risked everything on a hope. The uncertainty of the greatest opportunity of my life fueled a belief in my potential.
Immersing myself in the grueling environment of elite sport, I transformed myself into a world-class Paralympic Cyclist. In less than four years, I defied all odds to qualify and represent TeamUSA at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games.
The world applauded my triumphant rise from a pediatric stroke, defying adversity and achieving the apex of sport: going to the Paralympic Games.. However, the intense physical toll of elite sport culminated in a severe, high-speed velodrome crash in Carson, California. I eventually walked away from competitive cycling, recognizing that the very sport that had rekindled my spirit had served its purpose, and it was time to evolve. This realization marked a new chapter in my journey. Stepping away from the relentless “push at all costs” mentality, I began exploring a deeper, more sustainable approach to life and wellness.
Currently serving as the Vice President of the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association, I bring a wealth of leadership experience to every endeavor. I hold a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and am currently completing my MBA. Yet, impressive accolades that define my professional resumé only scratch the surface of a profound, 40-year journey through unimaginable physical adversity, relentless perseverance, and an ongoing dedication to holistic growth.
I bring a message of profound resilience, unwavering hope, and the power of transformation. I stand before audiences as living proof that while we cannot always control the adversity that strikes us, we have the ultimate power to shape our response to it. My story is a compelling reminder that true strength is found not just in the relentless push to overcome, but in the courage to discover our true path and turn our greatest challenges into our most powerful catalysts for growth.
To me, that is the true heart of a Champion.
Listen to Billy Read his Story