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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| University team | USC Trojans | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Ezra Frech (born May 11, 2005) is an amazing American track and field athlete. He competes in events like high jump, long jump, and sprinting. Ezra is a two-time Paralympian, which means he has competed in 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. Besides being a top athlete, Ezra is also a motivational speaker and works to support the rights of people with disabilities.
Contents
Ezra's Early Life and Journey
Ezra Frech was born in Los Angeles, California. His mother, Bahar Soomekh, is an actress from Iran, and his father, Clayton Frech, is American. Ezra has two younger brothers, Gabriel and Elijah.
Born with a Difference
Ezra was born without most of his left leg and some fingers on his left hand. When he was just 11 months old, he received his first prosthetic leg. At age 2, he had surgery to remove the lower part of his left leg. Doctors also moved a toe from his amputated foot to his left hand. This surgery happened at Boston Children's Hospital.
School and College Life
Ezra graduated from the Brentwood School in 2023. In February 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 joined the University of Southern California (USC). As of 2025, he is studying for a bachelor's degree in the business of cinematic arts at USC.
Ezra's Amazing Sports Career
As a child, Ezra loved playing many sports. He tried basketball, baseball, soccer, and even karate. When he was 8 years old, he decided to focus on track and field.
Starting His Track Journey
Ezra's 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 going in track and field. His father was also inspired by the Endeavor Games. He decided to create a similar event in Los Angeles, which they named the Angel City Games.
In 2014, Ezra was a finalist for Sports Illustrated Sportkid of the Year. This shows how talented he was even at a young age!
International Competitions and Medals
Ezra's first time competing internationally was at 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.
He was the youngest athlete to compete at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. He reached the finals in all three of his events, which was a huge achievement, though he didn't win a medal that time.
Paralympic Games and World Records
In 2021, Ezra competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympic Games in Tokyo. He finished 5th in the high jump T63 event, setting a personal best. He was very close to winning a medal! He also placed 8th in the long jump T63 event.
At the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, Ezra won a gold medal in the high jump T63. He even set a new world record with a jump of 1.95 meters! He also competed in the long jump event.
In 2024, at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, he earned a silver medal in the high jump T63. He also placed 4th in the long jump.
Ezra continued to break records! At the 2024 USA Paralympic Trials, he broke his own world record in high jump T63 with a jump of 1.97 meters. He also won first place in the long jump T63, setting a new U.S. record with a jump of 7.05 meters.
His incredible hard work paid off at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris. Ezra won two gold medals! He won gold in 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, setting a Paralympic Games record of 1.94 meters.
Ezra's Work to Help Others
Ezra and his family are very dedicated to helping people with physical disabilities.
Team Ezra
In 2006, Ezra's family started "Team Ezra." This group helps provide money to organizations that support people with physical disabilities. Ezra himself started speaking at schools when he was only 4 years old. He wanted to raise awareness about people with disabilities as part of his organization's work.
Angel City Sports
In 2013, Ezra, his father Clayton, and their friends founded Angel City Sports. This amazing organization offers free sports training, equipment, and chances to compete for kids and adults with physical disabilities all year round. Angel City Sports hosts one of the biggest adaptive sports events in the country, called the Angel City Games. They also hold events for veterans, first responders, and young people.
