Athlete Spotlight

Benjamin Belino - Eastern Washington University

​

Ben Belino is a determined adaptive athlete from Ephrata, Washington, whose life changed after a head-on car crash in 2022 left him with multiple injuries and ultimately an above-the-knee amputation. Despite the setback, he returned to competition within a year, transitioning from running to wheelchair racing and qualifying for the state championships, where he posted a mile time faster than his pre-injury performance. Motivated by his love of competition and strong support from family, coaches, and community, Belino graduated in 2024 and is continuing his athletic journey as a wheelchair basketball player at Eastern Washington University, while also pursuing goals of becoming a firefighter.