Blind Woman With MS Is Breaking World Records in Weightlifting w/ Samantha Love (RR #87)

17 hours ago

2 min read

Rebel Rootz Show Episode #87 with Samantha Love.

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Samantha Love was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 21, medically discharged from the Army, and eventually began losing her vision. Today, she is a mom, business owner, PhD student, adaptive weightlifter, and world champion who is breaking records on the international stage.

In this episode, Evonne and Samantha talk about MS, progressive vision loss, sobriety, motherhood, adaptive sports, and what it takes to keep going when life looks nothing like the plan you had for yourself. Samantha shares what it is like to compete while sometimes losing nearly all of her remaining vision, why accessibility still has a long way to go, and how she learned to navigate the emotional lows without letting them define her.

They also get into entrepreneurship, advocacy, asking for help, and why disability does not mean giving up on the things you still want. Samantha’s story is a reminder that your path can change completely and still lead somewhere meaningful.

For anyone facing a diagnosis, disability, or unexpected new chapter, this conversation is about taking life one day at a time and refusing to let your circumstances decide what is possible for you. Stop putting your life off.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Trailer + Intro

[02:46] Embracing the Life She Never Planned

[04:41] Diagnosed With MS at 21

[08:12] Depression, Drinking, and Starting Over

[10:27] Becoming an Advocate for People With Disabilities

[14:17] Why Accessibility Needs to Be Proactive

[16:33] Getting Sober for Her Son

[19:28] From Weightlifting to Adaptive Competition

[21:41] Becoming an Adaptive World Champion

[24:47] Becoming an Entrepreneur by Accident

[28:18] Lifting While Losing Her Vision

[29:56] The Emotional Reality of Progressive Vision Loss

[32:22] How to Support Someone Who Is Blind or Losing Vision

[35:40] Advice for Someone Newly Diagnosed With MS

[36:44] What’s Next: Japan, a Farm, and Keep Going

Key Takeaways:

• “There are times where I'm bawling my eyes out between lifts because I wish I could see.” ~ Samantha Love

• “I also didn't want any of his memories to ever be with me with a drink in my hand.” ~ Samantha Love

• “I either needed to stop and never start again or I was never gonna be able to stop.” ~ Samantha Love

• “I would not be where I am in weightlifting if I had kept drinking. There's absolutely no way.” ~ Samantha Love

• “I don't subscribe to the belief that just because something's always been done that way, especially when it's at a disadvantage to those with disabilities, that we should just let it continue.” ~ Samantha Love

• “We all have a vice, right? And it's what we choose to do with that vice.” ~ Evonne Varady

• “My path wasn't what I wanted, but I'm doing really cool stuff now.” ~ Samantha Love

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Timestamps:

Key Takeaways:

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