Firefighter Amputee, Youth Church Leader to Compete on ‘American Ninja Warrior’

Denton Firefighter and amputee Gary Weiland heads to San Antonio this week to compete on the hit TV show “American Ninja Warrior.”

Weiland has wanted to be on the TV show since it came out 14 years ago. Three years ago, he had an unfortunate turn of events from a knee surgery that required leg amputation.

Physical Climb

Just 10 months after the surgery, he returned to work as a firefighter due to his grit, hard work, dedicated training and positive outlook. After achieving the goal of returning to firefighting, he set his sights next on training for “American Ninja Warrior.”

Weiland prepared for the competition from training at Ninja gyms in Dallas. “I’m not worried about upper body obstacles, but the balance obstacles are my biggest challenge.”

A father of four, he said his kids have always been his biggest motivator. He recalls telling them from his hospital bed that their dad was “Like Superman who just swallowed his Kryptonite! I decided that I didn’t want them to ever look at me like this again. Whatever it took, I was going to put in the hard work for them.”

Since he lost half his leg in the post-surgery complication, Weiland has become a motivational speaker and children’s book author.

He hopes to take someone from the low feeling he had in the hospital bed to the hope and potential of their future. “Find what brings you joy in this world, then you can revert to those things and then you’ll find hope. This can keep moving you forward through those tough times.”

For Weiland, returning to firefighting was something that motivated him at first. “My technique has changed in firefighting. I’ve done a lot of practice to re-think how I accomplish tasks such as climbing ladders and getting on roofs,” he says.

Weiland always has a next hill to climb. After Ninja, he hopes to train for Volleyball in Paralympics.

Spiritual Mountains

As a leader in the Young Men’s organization for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he “tries to share that Heavenly Father has a plan for us and it’s all about how we all face adversity and how we respond that determines our character. Tough times don’t last, tough people do.”

He teaches youth, “You have to work on muscles to get them big and strong. Similarly, you have to work on faith by reading scriptures, serving and doing things that will increase your faith.”

Weiland attributes his faith to getting through this trial. “I don’t know how anyone goes through life without Faith, believing in something bigger than themselves. For me, I believe in God and Jesus Christ and that He came and lived and died for me. That gives me hope for the future. It uplifts me and sustains me through my daily life. I know that He knows what that feels like. I don’t want to let God down, I want to give him everything back that I’ve been given.”

“The (amputation) was obviously the worst day of my life. I can’t go back to basketball that I loved and so many other things. Many may think, why did this happen to me? I don’t dwell on these thoughts. I like to instead ask, why did this happen FOR me?”

Inspiring Others

Weiland has described his amputation and journey as a gift for others.

 “I hope others can see that everyone faces tough times, and this was my big one. Whatever they are going through in their life, maybe they can look at me up there competing on the biggest TV stage and see that’s not easy! If he can do it, nobody special, he’s only 5″10 and a regular guy, so if he can do this physically and mentally, then I can go through what I’m going through and I’m not alone. I hope others get a little encouraged, inspired when things get tough,” Weiland says.

Weiland has started publishing a series of children’s books to educate kids on amputees and bring hope to others in their trials. His first book, “Fischer’s Accident,” follows a firefighter who lost his leg and hopes to humanize amputees for children. I have two goals in my children’s book series: first, to take the shock factor out of seeing amputees for kids. Second, to inspire others through their own tough times. His second book should be published this summer.

Find His Books: https://garyweiland.com/

Hear His Story on Our Podcast:

https://lonestarldsvoices.podbean.com/e/fireman-survivor-hero-the-gary-weiland-story/

Buy “Fischer’s Accident” https://www.amazon.com/Fischers-Accident-Gary-Weiland/dp/B09SNQ9SRC/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1645284927&sr=8-1