{{short description|American paralympic sportsman, advocate, author, and teacher}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Brent Poppen | image = | image_size = | caption = | country = {{flagicon|USA}} United States | sport = Paralympics | event = Team Rugby, Individual Tennis | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1973|05|24}} | birth_place = Long Beach, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | nationals = '''1996–1998, 2006, 2009–2010 National Quad Rugby Champion''' '''2007 Japan Open Tennis Championships Doubles Champion''' | worlds = | paralympics = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Team Rugby }} {{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }} {{MedalCompetition | Paralympic Games }} {{MedalBronze | 2004 Athens | Wheelchair Rugby }} {{MedalCompetition | Wheelchair Rugby World Games }} {{MedalSilver | 2003 | Wheelchair Rugby }} {{MedalCompetition | World Team Cup }} {{MedalGold | 2007 | Tennis }} | module = {{Infobox writer | embed = yes | occupation = author, motivational speaker, rehab counselor | genre = biography, children's books | notableworks = ''Tragedy on the Mountain'', ''Playground Lessons-Friendship & Forgiveness: Harley and his wheelchair'' | website = {{URL|www.hugsbybrent.com}}<br />{{URL|www.booksbybrent.com}} }} }}
'''Brent Poppen''' (born May 24, 1973) is an American disability advocate, author, substitute teacher,<ref>{{cite web |title=Discussing Disability Awareness with Author Brent Poppen |url=http://blog.themobilityresource.com/blog/post/discussing-disability-awareness-with-author-brent-poppe |accessdate=November 7, 2014 |date=December 21, 2012 |author=Fenell, Zachary}}</ref> and Paralympian.<ref name="TeamUSA profile">{{cite web |title=Profile |url=http://www.teamusa.org/para-wheelchair-tennis/athletes/brent-poppen#profile |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108002025/http://www.teamusa.org/para-wheelchair-tennis/athletes/brent-poppen#profile |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 8, 2014 |website=Team USA |accessdate=November 7, 2014}}</ref>
He has authored two books,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bio on Brent Poppen |url=http://www.writers.net/writers/65200 |accessdate=November 19, 2014}}</ref> a biography titled "Tragedy on the Mountain,<ref>{{cite web |title=Book Review: 'Tragedy on the Mountain' |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Book-Review-Tragedy-on-the-Mountain-by-Brent-5150469.php |accessdate=November 8, 2014 |date=January 16, 2014 |author=Di Tosti, Carole}}</ref>" which details his journey from paralysis to competing in the 2004 and 2008 Paralympics, as well as a children's book titled "Playground Lessons-Friendship & Forgiveness: Harley and his wheelchair.<ref>{{cite book |title=Author Brent Poppen |isbn=978-1475035179 |last1=Poppen |first1=Brent |date=17 March 2012 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform }}</ref>"
==Early life== Poppen was injured in a wrestling accident on February 18, 1990, while visiting a Christian church camp located in Lake Hume, California<ref>{{cite book |last1=Poppen |first1=Brent |title=Tragedy on the Mountain: A Quadriplegic's Journey From Paralysis To Paralympics |date=2012 |publisher=createspace.com |isbn=978-1475035186 |page=17}}<!--|accessdate=November 25, 2014--></ref> After a wresting opponent fell on top of him, Poppen's spinal cord had an incomplete break at the level of the sixth cervical vertebra, rendering him a quadriplegic immediately. He was airlifted from a rural hospital, Fresno Community Hospital, later being sent to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where he spent three months rehabilitating, and was released on May 23, 1990. He was 16 years old at the time of his accident, and released from the hospital the day before his 17th birthday. He is considered a limited motion quadriplegic, since he has limited function in his arms and hands.
Poppen attended Millikan High School, in Long Beach, for his senior year shortly after his accident. He went on to earn his associate degree from Long Beach City College, and then his bachelor's degree in social science from Chapman University.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Poppen |first1=Brent |title=Tragedy on the Mountain: A Quadriplegic's Journey From Paralysis to Paralympics |date=2012 |publisher=createspace.com |isbn=978-1475035186 |page=cover}}<!--|accessdate=November 25, 2014--></ref>
==Athletic achievement/career==
Poppen received his bachelor's degree, and subsequently his substitute teaching certificate, but is most widely known as an athlete. He has competed in two consecutive Paralympics, Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, two world games and numerous world team cups in wheelchair rugby. He has a bronze medal from the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, where he competed for the American Wheelchair Rugby Team. He is a six-time National Quad Rugby Champion, from 1996 to 1998, and again in 2006.<ref name="TeamUSA profile" /> He is also known for being one of the athletes featured in "Murderball," an award-winning 2005 documentary about wheelchair rugby and the rivalry between the U.S. and Canadian teams leading up to the 2004 Paralympic Games.<ref name="Brent Poppen- Achieving the Dream">{{cite web |last1=Staff |title=Brent Poppen- Achieving the Dream |url=http://legacy.pitchengine.com/childrenshospitalcentralcalifornia/brentpoppenachievingthedream |website=Pitch Engine |accessdate=November 28, 2014}}</ref>
Since retiring from the professional sporting arena, Poppen has spent his summers teaching adaptive water skiing lessons, among other sports. He is an avid wakeboarder and spends much time on the water when possible.<ref name="Players">{{cite news |last1=Melroy |first1=James |title=Players |url=http://pvamag.com/sns/magazine/article.php?art=467 |accessdate=November 28, 2014 |work=Sports 'n Spokes |date=September 2001}}</ref>
In early 2014, Poppen was awarded the Curt Condon Spirit Award at the Southern California Tennis Association's Annual Meeting & Awards, held in the Straus Stadium Clubhouse at the Los Angeles Tennis Center – UCLA.<ref>{{cite web |title=SCTA Annual Meeting & Awards |url=http://www.scta.usta.com/tennis_news/scta_annual_meeting__awards/ |website=www.scta.usta.com |accessdate=January 12, 2015}}</ref>
Following the end of his athletic career, Poppen began to work in education and rehabilitation. Poppen is part of the rehabilitation team at a children's hospital in his hometown of Fresno, California, providing additional resources to families in need,<ref name="Brent Poppen- Achieving the Dream"/> a substitute teacher, and has begun a career as a motivational speaker for schools in Southern and Central California. He has spoken at dozens of schools incorporating his books and his message that "anything is possible".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hanselman |first1=Hope |title=Paralympics have ties to the central coast |url=http://www.ksby.com/news/paralympics-have-ties-to-the-central-coast/ |accessdate=November 28, 2014 |agency=KSBY |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204103817/http://www.ksby.com/news/paralympics-have-ties-to-the-central-coast/ |archive-date=December 4, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> His desire to be a motivational speaker began while competing internationally and speaking to students attending competitions in locations such as New Zealand, Athens, Beijing, and Buenos Aires.
Popper's life has been covered by numerous news outlets, including Paso Robles Magazine,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Drum |first1=Millie |title=Paso People |url=http://www.pasoroblesmagazine.com/pdf/2009.09.poppen |accessdate=November 28, 2014 |date=September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205071820/http://www.pasoroblesmagazine.com/pdf/2009.09.poppen |archive-date=December 5, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Sports 'N Spokes: The Magazine for Wheelchair Sports and Recreation,<ref name="Players"/> The King City Rustler,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Escoto |first1=Timothy |title=King CIty Rustler Paralympic athlete visits Chalone Peaks |url=http://www.kingcityrustler.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=1070&page=72 |accessdate=November 28, 2014 |date=January 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224359/http://www.kingcityrustler.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=1070&page=72 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ventura County Star,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Foster |first1=Jeremy |title=Paralympian inspires Camarillo students to chase dream |url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/paralympian-inspires-camarillo-students-to-chase |accessdate=November 28, 2014 |date=January 24, 2014}}</ref> The Long Beach Press Telegram,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Archbold |first1=Rich |title=Long Beach Author triumphs over injury |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/opinion/20120621/rich-archbold-long-beach-author-triumphs-over-injury |accessdate=November 28, 2014 |date=June 20, 2012}}</ref> and has been a keynote speaker at California PTA's Statewide Convention in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Staff |title=Keynote Speakers |url=http://www.capta.org/sections/convention-2013/keynote-speakers.cfm |website=www.capta.org |accessdate=November 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205181120/http://www.capta.org/sections/convention-2013/keynote-speakers.cfm |archive-date=December 5, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Poppen, Brent}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Long Beach, California Category:American disability rights activists Category:Paralympic wheelchair rugby players for the United States Category:Paralympic wheelchair tennis players for the United States Category:Millikan High School alumni Category:Chapman University alumni Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for the United States Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Paralympics Category:Paralympic medalists in wheelchair rugby Category:Wheelchair rugby players at the 2004 Summer Paralympics Category:Tennis players from Long Beach, California Category:American wheelchair tennis players