ESPN Action Sports

Husband, father and entrepreneur, Nick Pappas runs two businesses and still holds his own on the track. Pappas had just turned pro in 1995 at the age of 16 when he was injured riding, becoming a T4 paraplegic. The injury didn't slow Pappas down for long; he often beats able-bodied competitors when he rides these days. A graduate of Ohlone College in Fremont, Calif., Nick also developed go-karts for disabled paras for the Full Circle Foundation. Today, he runs a printing and promotion business with 50 employees and a clothing company. Last year he took ninth at XG Super X Adaptive despite breaking his hand in practice.