Woman born without legs sets new skateboarding world record

Paralympic athlete, Kanya Sesser, who was born without legs, broke a world record by holding a handstand on a skateboard for the longest time. 

The 31-year-old athlete and model held a handstand on a skateboard for a whopping 19.5 seconds and secured a spot in the Guinness World Records 2025.  

“I think it’s one of the life-changing career moments that have happened to me,” Kanya said after achieving the extraordinary feat. 

“It’s so incredible to me to make history for others to see. I have made an impact on others for the next generations to come,” she added. 

Born in 1992, with a congenital absence of both legs, she also required multiple surgeries to correct her webbed fingers.

Kanya is originally from Thailand, but her early life was challenging. She was found abandoned on a roadside by a woman passing a Buddhist temple school in Pak Chong.

The woman took her to the hospital where a nurse cared for her until she turned seven in 1998. That same year, Kanya was adopted by an American family and moved to Portland, Oregon.

She expressed deep gratitude to those instrumental in shaping her into a powerful athlete.

“Someone who’s been a monumental part of my life is my mom Jane and all of the Thai woman nurses who helped raise me to become a strong independent woman.

“But I also felt like it was genetics for me to be who I am today! Sometimes we just have it within our soul and blood but others help push you to become who you are today,"

Undeterred by her physical limitations, Kanya Sesser is a dedicated sports enthusiast. She excelled in various sports, including wheelchair racing, rugby, swimming, and sledge hockey.