Chris Hammer

About

I was born with one hand. Technically, my entire left arm is underdeveloped from the scapula (shoulder blade) on down - but it’s easier to just say, "I have one hand."From an early age, I was taught that this was never an excuse - not to avoid challenges, and certainly not to do anything halfway. With that expectation made clear, I did anything and everything I wanted to do. Sometimes adaptation was in order, but where there is a will, there is a way.Growing up, I absolutely loved playing sports, with ice hockey taking up my winters and baseball my summers throughout my youth. But in high school, I discovered that my real talent was in distance running, and I developed a fire and passion to improve.A successful high school career gave me the opportunity to run cross-country and track at Grand Valley State University, a large Division II college in West Michigan. I would go on to become a five-time NCAA All-American, win four individual conference championships, and help my team to achieve previously unattained levels of success.It was towards the end of my college career when a Team USA Para Track coach approached me. At the time, I didn’t even know Para Sport existed, and to be honest, I was hesitant. I had never let my impairment define me, so why would I pursue a sport that, by definition, was built around it?But with some encouragement from coaches, teammates, and friends, I decided to give it a shot. I qualified for the 2012 London Paralympic Games and was immediately blown away. Not just by the scale of the event, with its massive media coverage and roaring crowds, but by the level of competition. I had assumed I must be the fastest one-handed person in the world. I was wrong. I got my butt kicked in London.After those Games, I saw that triathlon would be added to the Paralympics for the first time in Rio 2016. I had no background in the sport, but I reached out to the Team USA Paratriathlon performance director, introduced myself, and expressed my interest. Long story short... it took some time, but I took to triathlon quickly. Well enough to qualify for my second Paralympic Games: the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games. I was in the mix for a podium finish, but I ultimately finished in 4th place. Just off the podium. The hardest place to finish in all of sport.With extra motivation, I committed to finally achieving my Paralympic podium dream in Tokyo 2020. But then, COVID shut down the world, pushing the Games back to 2021. Still, I arrived in the best shape of my life, ready to make it happen. And once again, I finished in 4th place. Just seconds off the podium.So, if you're keeping track, I had now competed in three Paralympics and finished 4th at the last two. My next (and likely final) opportunity would be the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. But I would be 38 years old. Past my prime.So my family and I made a decision: if I was going to do this, I was going all in. My dad always said, If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right. But what would that look like?Well, there was a USA Triathlon training group located in Arizona consisting of elite Olympic hopeful athletes called Project Podium. I met with the coach, Parker Spencer, and I told him that my goal was to finish on the podium at a Paralympic Games, and I was prepared to put in the work necessary to do just that. He believed he could help me to achieve that dream, and invited me to join his elite training group.It wasn't an easy decision, and it was certainly not made lightly, but my wife and I decided to move our family across country in pursuit of this elusive goal. My wife's sacrifice and selflessness in service of my dream is something I will forever be grateful for.So in 2022, we moved to Arizona. And I began training with Project Podium. To make a long story short, it paid off. On September 22, 2024, on the streets of Paris at the age of 38, I not only achieved my goal of finishing on a Paralympic podium, I finished on top with the Gold Medal.That could be the end of my athletic story, and it would be a fairy tale ending. But the thing is, the next Games are hosted on home soil... Los Angeles 2028. And the idea of representing the United States as the defending Gold Medalist is just too tempting... And so, the journey continues...

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Sponsors

I’m currently seeking sponsorship partners across a range of industries, including—but not limited to—footwear, bikes, components and accessories, wetsuits, and athletic apparel.While triathlon and sport-related brands are a natural fit, I welcome support from any organization that values excellence, resilience, and performance. If you’re interested in partnering with a world-class athlete on a mission, I’d love to connect.

Current Sponsors

I am currently sponsored by the Valley Toyota Dealerships in Arizona. Check out my sweet ride for the next 3 years (and hopefully longer)!

Logo Placement on Race Uniform

Sponsor logos can also be featured on my race uniform. See Diagram 1 below for potential logo placement options, as well as the finish line photo below to see how branding has appeared in past competitions.

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