Justin Gallegos Becomes First Nike Athlete with Cerebral Palsy

Nike adds college runner Justin Gallegos to their “Just Do It” campaign.

Justin Gallegos is the newest face of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign. A junior at the University of Oregon, Gallegos was recently awarded a three-year contract with the athletic brand.

 

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I’m still at loss for words! Thank to everyone for the love and the support not only the past couple days but the last seven years of my life! Beyond blessed to officially represent the swoosh! Still can’t believe I made Nike history! Very excited! Big things are yet to come! Trust in the process! And trust in God! All glory to the most high! God is truly good! #NikeRunning #NIKE #SWOOSH #SwooshFamily #Beaverton #Nike72 #JustDoIt #ThereIsNoFinishLine #StrongerEveryMile #NoSuchThingAsADisability #Limitless #Breaking2

A post shared by Justin “Magic” Gallegos (@zoommagic) on Oct 8, 2018 at 12:08pm PDT

Gallegos’ signing is particularly monumental. His collaboration with Nike makes him the brand’s first athlete with cerebral palsy, a muscle disorder associated with abnormal brain development during childhood. Regardless of this, Gallegos has persevered and achieved his goal of becoming a college athlete.

 

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Today on world Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, I reached a milestone in my running journey! Today I made Nike history and became the very first athlete with Cerebral Palsy to sign a contract with Nike! You don’t realize how realistic and emotional your dreams are until they play out before your very eyes! Signing this contract was a huge success for me and I would not have made it without my friends and family and teammates! This was perhaps the most emotional moment in my seven years of running! Growing up with a disability, the thought of becoming a professional athlete is as I have said before like the thought of climbing Mt. Everest! It is definitely possible, but the odds are most definitely not in your favor! Hard work pays off! Hundreds of miles, blood, sweat, and tears has lead me here along with a few permanent scars! But the journey is damn sure not over!!! Looking back, I would guess there is only a few select people who would see me were I am today! I have gone through just about everything in the book to be where I am today! I was once a kid in leg braces who could barely put on foot in front of the other! Now I have signed a contract with Nike Running! Trust the process! And most of all trust in God! God is good! Thank you to all my friends, family, and teammates on running club, and now a brand new atmosphere on teammates with Nike! This moment will live forever! Thank you everyone for helping show the world that there is No Such Thing As A Disability! #ProfessionalAthlete #SWOOSH #Nike72 #NikeTrackandField #NikeXC #ThereIsNoFinishLine #StrongerEveryMile #NoSuchThingAsADisability #NikeRunning #Limitless #Breaking2 Video Credits: @elevation0m

A post shared by Justin “Magic” Gallegos (@zoommagic) on Oct 6, 2018 at 5:33pm PDT

Recently, Nike has begun to expand their representation to include people with various disabilities, proving that no physical limitation can stop a true athlete from achieving success.

 

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You don’t need two legs to dream. #justdoit See @alwaystri’s story on our IGTV.

A post shared by nike (@nike) on Oct 13, 2018 at 9:20am PDT

The inclusive “Just Do It” campaign holds the potential to inspire a new generation of athletes to strive for success.

You can watch Josh Gallegos’ heartwarming story below.