Clayton Braun was 19 when a diving accident resulted in paraplegia—including loss of function of his legs and limited hand strength. A lifelong athlete, he wasn’t sure what was next. He remembers thinking, “I’ve never played sports in a wheelchair before. How do I even do this?”

Then he learned about the Enabling Mobility Center, a collaboration between Paraquad and the Program in Occupational Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine. The EMC, which would grow to become the Health and Wellness Center, was modest: a few pieces of equipment in a basement area. But it was a start.

A year later, Clayton gave into pressure from Health and Wellness Center staff to try out for the St. Louis Rugby Rams, a wheelchair rugby team. His initial reluctance quickly changed to excitement, and he thrived in this chance to be active and to compete as an athlete. A few years later, Clayton was named to the U.S. Paralympic Rugby Team, winning four gold medals from 2009–2013. However, he never stopped training at the Health and Wellness Center because of its unique equipment and expertise.

“I’ve been on Team USA for four years. I’ve gotten a ton of training. But there’s still things I learn from those guys in there all the time.”