Making Bold Moves: How Prosthetics Powered Katy Sullivan from Broadway to the Paralympics

April 3, 2026

Hanger Clinic

This Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, we’re celebrating Katy Sullivan, an actress, writer, and four-time U.S. Paralympic champion. Born without the lower halves of her legs, she made history as the first amputee actress to perform on Broadway. Today, Katy uses her platform as a bilateral above-knee amputee to show the world what’s possible when you make bold moves and become the hero of your own story.

A Dream That Started Early

Katy was born in Alabama with a bilateral above‑knee limb difference. Growing up as the youngest of four, she was always trying to keep pace with her older siblings. It wasn’t until she was six years old that Katy recalls realizing she was different, but she never let that realization slow her down.

Raised by parents who encouraged her to try everything, she decided to become an actress. Katy got her start as an actress at a very young age, debuting in her first play in middle school. Little did she know then that her curiosity would become her career, and she would someday make history as the first amputee actress to star on Broadway, something she says she always dreamed of as a kid.

Katy went on to appear in several major television series and is the first person with limb loss nominated for a Tony Award.

With a long list of accolades, she spends most of her time at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, a place she describes as her home away from home. Katy says the theatre community as a whole has been incredibly supportive of her desire to be more than just a performer with a disability.

A Team in her Corner

Behind every great performance is a great support system. Katy receives care at Hanger Clinic’s Integrated Care Center in Chicago, a state-of-the-art destination facility providing integrated, end-to-end orthotic and prosthetic care from leading experts in the field. Her prosthetist, Ryan Caldwell, L/CP, and care team are committed to helping her achieve the unthinkable, on and off the stage.

“The care that I have received from this organization has truly empowered me to live an incredibly dynamic, powerful, and successful life,” Katy shared.

Finding Herself Through Adaptive Sport

When Katy isn’t on stage, she can be found pursuing her other passion: running.

“I had never run before in my life. It was like learning how to walk again,” shared Katy. “I realized I was holding so much tension, and when I relaxed, all of a sudden I was jogging.”

Six weeks after learning how to run, Katy competed in her first national event. She went on to represent the United States as a Paralympic athlete for seven years, becoming a four-time U.S. Champion in the 100m. Adding to her list of firsts, she became one of the first bilateral above-knee amputees to compete in the Paralympics on running blades. 

“What running did for me was all internal. It was about self-belief and realizing I didn’t have to hide who I was anymore in all aspects of my life. I’m no longer hiding who I am. I’m proud of who I am,” reflected Katy.

Though she no longer runs competitively, Katie covered the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games as a sports analyst and continues to run today to stay in shape.

Advocating for Representation and Inclusion

Growing up, Katy recalls not seeing anyone who looked like her. That experience shaped her into a passionate advocate for representation and inclusion. As a motivational speaker, she has taken the stage as a keynote speaker for organizations including the Amputee Coalition and the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Another organization near and dear to Katy is Ready, Set, Gold!, an LA-based nonprofit that promotes health, fitness, and living Olympic values to children.

Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month

With 5.6 million people across the U.S. who have limb loss or limb difference, chances are you will encounter someone who has faced or is facing this difficult journey. April is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the resilience, strength, and stories of individuals like Katy who are redefining what’s possible. Katy’s journey is a powerful reminder that limb loss and limb difference do not define one’s potential. Throughout the month and all year long, let’s support those with limb loss and limb difference.