Early Life
Kelly Brush has always been an athlete at heart. Growing up in Charlotte, Vermont, she immersed herself in alpine ski racing, soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and more. But ski racing was her true passion, and she pursued it at the Green Mountain Valley School, excelling in Downhill and Super-G. Her hard-charging, fearless style earned her a place among the nation’s top-ranked racers, leading to a coveted spot on the Middlebury College NCAA Alpine Ski Team, following in the footsteps of her parents and older sister.
Kelly’s Accident
Kelly’s ski career was soaring until February 2006, when a crash during a race resulted in a severe spinal cord injury. In an instant, everything changed—but her determination never wavered. After months of rehabilitation, she returned to Middlebury, remained an active part of the ski team, and learned to monoski on the same slopes where she had once competed. Two years later, she fulfilled a postponed dream, fore-running the Middlebury Carnival in her monoski. She graduated on time in 2008 to a standing ovation, receiving the NCAA Inspiration Award the following year.
Professional Life
Kelly went on to build a career as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner while co-founding the Kelly Brush Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with paralysis to live active, independent lives. She continues to ski, bike, golf, play tennis, and teach all of these things to her two young daughters.
Inspiring Audiences
As a speaker, Kelly inspires audiences to build confidence, challenge biases, and embrace life’s obstacles with resilience and an open mind. Her story is not just about overcoming adversity—it’s about rewriting the narrative of what’s possible, proving that our mindset, not our circumstances, defines our potential.