Ezra Frech facts for kids
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| Born | May 11, 2005 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 150 lb | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country |  United States |
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| Sport | Para-athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disability class | T63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Ezra Frech, born on May 11, 2005, is an amazing American athlete. He competes in track and field events like high jump, long jump, and sprinting. Ezra has been to the Paralympic Games twice. He won two gold medals at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris! He also earned two silver medals at the 2019 Parapan American Games. Beyond sports, Ezra is a motivational speaker and works to support disability rights.
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Ezra Frech's Early Life
Ezra Frech was born in Los Angeles, California. His mother, Bahar Soomekh, is an actress from Iran. His father, Clayton Frech, has German roots. Ezra has two younger brothers, Gabriel and Elijah.
Ezra was born without most of his left leg and some fingers on his left hand. He got his first prosthetic leg when he was only 11 months old. When he was two, Ezra had surgery to remove his lower left leg. Doctors also moved a toe from his removed foot to his left hand. This surgery happened at Boston Children's Hospital.
Ezra graduated from the Brentwood School in 2023. In 2024, he made history. He became the first athlete with an above-the-knee amputation to join an NCAA Division I track and field team. He committed to the University of Southern California.
Ezra's Sports Career
As a child, Ezra played many sports. He tried basketball, baseball, soccer, and karate. When he was eight, he started focusing on track and field. His first track meet was in 2013 at the Endeavor Games in Edmond, Oklahoma. There, he broke several national youth records. This experience inspired him to keep competing.
Ezra's father was also inspired by the Endeavor Games. He decided to create a similar event in Los Angeles. This event is now known as the Angel City Games. In 2014, Ezra was a finalist for Sports Illustrated Sportkid of the Year.
International Competitions
Ezra's first international competition was the 2019 World Para Athletics Junior Championships. He won one gold medal and two bronze medals there. Later that year, he won two silver medals at the 2019 Parapan American Games.
Ezra was the youngest athlete at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. He reached the finals in all three of his events. However, he did not win any medals at that competition.
At the 2020 Summer Paralympic Games in Tokyo (held in 2021), Ezra did very well. He finished 5th in the high jump T63 event. He set a personal best, missing a medal by just 3 centimeters. He also placed 8th in the long jump T63 event.
In 2023, Ezra competed at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris. He won the gold medal in high jump T63. He also set a new world record with a jump of 1.95 meters! He also competed in the men's long jump T63 event.
At the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Ezra earned a silver medal in the high jump T63. He also placed 4th in the long jump T63.
Ezra broke his own world record in high jump T63 in 2024. This happened at the USA Paralympic Trials. He jumped 1.97 meters! He also placed first in the long jump T63. He broke the U.S. record with an amazing jump of 7.05 meters.
Ezra competed at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris. He won two gold medals! He won the 100 meters T63 race with a time of 12.06 seconds. He also won gold in the men's high jump T63 on his very first jump.
Ezra's Philanthropy Work
In 2006, Ezra's family started an organization called Team Ezra. This group helps provide money to organizations that support people with physical disabilities. Ezra began speaking at schools when he was just four years old. He wanted to raise awareness for people with disabilities. This was part of his organization's efforts.
In 2013, Ezra, his father Clayton, and their friends founded Angel City Sports. This organization offers free sports training, equipment, and competitions. It helps kids and adults with physical disabilities. Angel City Sports hosts one of the biggest adaptive sports events in the country. This event is called the Angel City Games. They also hold events for veterans, first responders, and young people.
