CAF Athlete Ambassadors

Through their outreach, mentorship, and presence at events, CAF Ambassadors inspire athletes of all abilities, raise awareness, and champion the importance of access to adaptive sports. Their efforts help to foster a more inclusive world where challenges are met with opportunity and empowerment.

Meet your 2024 CAF Athlete Ambassadors

Liv Stone

Liv Stone grew up living an active lifestyle and was involved in various sports. At age 14 she was introduced to surfing for the first time through Bethany Hamilton’s Foundation and the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Over the past several years, Liv has solidified her place as a champion in para surf, having competed at the ISA World Championships for Team USA in 2018 and in 2020 where she won Gold in her division. She defended her title consecutively in 2021 and 2022, making her a 3X Para Surf World Champion.

Her goal is to someday compete at the Paralympic level, hopefully in LA 2028. Most recently, USA Surfing’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve Liv as its newest board member. Liv says she got to where she is today because of the encouragement and support from her loving family. She considers CAF her second family because of how they created amazing opportunities for her and welcomed her joyfully. 

Travis Ricks

After a tumor caused by Osteosarcoma was discovered in his knee, Travis Ricks chose to amputate his leg so that he could continue to compete and participate in sports. 

He is eager to empower others who have experienced limb loss and the next generation of young athletes with physical disability through sport.

Roderick Sewell

Roderick Sewell made his international debut with the U.S. Para-Swimming Team at the 2014 Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships, he secured both a gold and a bronze medal, kicking off an impressive career. In 2019, Roderick became the first person with bilateral above-the-knee amputations to complete the 140.6-mile IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii—a feat that showcased his remarkable resilience and athletic prowess.

Roderick’s journey began when, at just two years old, both of his legs were amputated above the knee. His childhood was marked by significant challenges, including a period of homelessness in San Diego. However, his life changed for the better when he connected with the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). CAF provided him with a pair of running legs, giving him the opportunity to pursue adaptive sports and ultimately changing his life’s trajectory.

At the age of 10, Roderick learned to swim under the guidance of his coach and mentor, Alan Voisard, at the Mission Valley YMCA in San Diego. Swimming quickly became a powerful outlet for him, setting the foundation for his athletic success. Alongside his swimming achievements, Roderick also enjoys running and surfing, and he gives back to the community by volunteering and teaching at an outreach swim program at his local YMCA.

Dani Aravich

Danielle “Dani” Aravich was born without her left hand and forearm, but that never slowed her down. After competing as a Division-I cross-country and track and field athlete, Dani quickly found her place in the adaptive sports community. Her passion for sports led her to volunteer as a coach for limb-different athletes, while she also began training in track and field with the goal of competing in the Paralympic Games.

In 2019, Dani caught the eye of a U.S. Paralympic Nordic Ski coach, who invited her to a training camp that sparked a new ambition—competing in the Paralympic Winter Games. Dani’s determination paid off as she qualified for both the Summer and Winter Paralympics within just a few months of each other. She competed at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the T47 women’s 400-meter event, followed by her participation in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games, where she secured two top-ten finishes.

Dani first received a grant from Challenged Athletes Foundation in 2019 when she started her Paralympic journey. Since, she has volunteered at various camps and clinics.​

Josh Sweeney

Retired Marine Corps Sergeant Josh Sweeney became a bilateral amputee after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving in Nowzad, Afghanistan, in October 2009. For his bravery and sacrifice in combat, Sweeney was awarded the Purple Heart. 

In 2011, Josh made his first U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and served as tri-captain during the 2012-13 season. He continued on to the 2014 Paralympics, scoring the game-winning goal that would lead to a Gold medal victory for USA.  His leadership and skills were instrumental in the team’s success on the international stage.  In 2014, he also received the prestigious ESPY Pat Tillman Award for service.

After his hockey career, he began competing in Paratriathlon, capturing the 2019 USA Paratriathlon Nationals title and racing in the 2019 Paratriathlon World Championship. He most recently placed 3rd at the 2023 Long Beach World Cup.

Josh currently competes in Nordic/XC Skiing and went to the 2022 Paralympic Games making him a two-time Paralympian across two different sports.

Additionally, he became the first person to complete Rebecca’s Private Idaho 106-mile gravel race on a handcycle, conquering 6,000 feet of challenging climbs.

Willie Stewart

A construction accident in 1980 resulted in the amputation ofWillieStewart’sarm above the elbow. Just a few short years later, Willie captained the Washington Rugby Football Club and turned that experience into a catalyst that launched him into the world of endurance sports.

Willie’s impressive sports resume includes winning the CatalinaMarathon overall, completing the IRONMAN and XTERRA World Championships, and a Paralympic medal in cross–country skiing. Willie is also a 15–time Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon finisher, two–time finisher of the grueling HURT 100 mile run in Hawaii, was the first athlete with a physical disability to complete the Leadville 100 Ultramarathon race series and has kayaked the Grand Canyon. 

Steve Serio

Steve grew up in Westbury, New York, and graduated from Carle Place High School in 2005. When Steve was 11 months old, he had surgery to remove a spinal tumor which resulted in the compression of his spinal cord. Consequently, he was left paralyzed and is classified as an incomplete paraplegic.

Steve began his wheelchair basketball career as a sophomore in high school with the Long Island Lightning, the only competitive junior wheelchair basketball team in New York State. He was a tremendous asset to this team, eventually leading them to the team’s first National Championship in 2005 where was named the tournament MVP. In that same year, he played on a USA U-23 Team at the Australian Junior National Games for the Disabled in Sydney.

He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May 2010, where he studied Kinesiology.

As a co-captain of the USA Men’s National Wheelchair Basketball Team, he led the American men to their first Paralympic gold medal since 1988 at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games and defended the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Steve is a  5x Paralympian and 4x medalist after taking home the gold in the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

When not training or on the court, Serio enjoys reading, exercising, and traveling.