Murderball star and Paralympics gold medalist Mark Zupan will speak at Washington State University Vancouver‘s Spring Marquee Diversity Event at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7, in the Firstenburg Student Commons. The event is free and open to registered guests. WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th St. exit from either I-5 or I-205, and is bus accessible. Parking is free after 7 p.m. Register here.

Zupan found his sports-driven lifestyle challenged during college, after a car accident left him paralyzed. Nevertheless, Zupan graduated from Georgia Tech and became a civil engineer. Zupan stayed active in sports, enlisting in quad rugby league soon after the accident. Zupan’s determination and positive mindset propelled him to a string of successes, including becoming a two-time quad rugby national champion, earning the title of 2004 quad rugby player of the year, winning an Olympic quad rugby bronze medal, and becoming a spokesperson for Team USA.

Zupan gained further national recognition after starring in the 2005 documentary Murderball, chronicling Zupan’s journey to the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece. The film follows the fast-moving competitors as they compete on the courts, as well as the challenges and accomplishments of their disabilities off the courts.