Meet our KNX Hero of the Week, Team USA para archer Damon Whittaker! He’s inspiring others to be great, with his eyes set on LA28!

He's inspiring others to be great with his eyes set on LA 28.

Heather Jordan has our KNX Hero of the Week, an adaptive athlete from Southern California.

If you need some motivation today, here is your moment.

Damon Whitaker of Englewood is a Team USA para archer who turned a life altering injury from a car crash as a teenager into a successful career as an athlete.

I have been doing target archery with Team USA since 2023.

Archery was something that I tried years ago when I was younger.

He's gotten pretty good at it.

Damon, who is diagnosed as a quadriplegic, uses adaptive equipment to compete.

I have maybe 85% use of my hands and arms.

I can grab things.

I can do this and do that.

But if you were to give me a button-up shirt and me try to button up that top button, I just can't do it because of dexterity in my fingers.

Damon is also mentoring the next generation as an archery coach for Angel City Sports.

But it goes far beyond archery.

Damon is making such an impact in the world of adaptive sports that coming up on the 24th, he will be honored as the 2026 Athlete of the Year at their annual awards gala.

I like to play all sports.

The way that I look at it is I can't influence someone else to try to give adaptive sports a try without me being able to say I've done it myself and I can give them my personal experience.

So if you say if you like tennis, hey, I know exactly where and who I can set you up with if you're interested.

And that that's kind of like how I can do it.

Then they'll ask me, well, have you tried it? Yes, I have.

It was very hard, but it was fun at the same time.

He's been on an unexpected journey, but he's cherishing every moment and inspiring everyone around him.

Our KNX Hero of the Week, Para Archer, Damon Whitaker of Inglewood.

I have been able to show people that disbelief does not mean the end of your life and that you still can live a nice, fulfilled life.

By the way, Damon is also training to qualify for the LA 28 Paralympic Games.