Everything an organiser needs in one place

Short bio

Master Sergeant Cedric King entered the United States Army in 1995 and served twenty years, graduating the Army's Jumpmaster, Pathfinder, Air Assault and Ranger courses. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Legion of Merit, and an awardee of the Order of Saint Maurice, the patron saint of the Infantry.

On July 25, 2012, during his second tour in Afghanistan, he was severely injured by an improvised explosive device. The blast caused internal injuries, permanent damage to his right arm and hand, and the amputation of both legs. Cedric now refers to that moment as his finest hour. While recovering he completed his Bachelor's in Business Administration and began to cultivate his speaking voice, treating every adversity as a classroom to study in and one day teach from.

He has since worked as a motivational and leadership speaker to audiences worldwide — the US Naval Academy and the US Military Academy at West Point, franchises across the NFL, NBA and MLB, and Fortune 500 companies including Bank of America, Home Depot, Under Armour, Google and Meta. His book The Making Point: How to Succeed When You're at Your Breaking Point was published in February 2019; his second, Marathons, Mindset and Mercy, is finished, and his story is in development for the screen under the title Endurance. He has been featured on CBS, NBC, ABC, HBO and the NFL Network.

Twenty-one months after losing both legs he finished the 2014 Boston Marathon. He is an eleven-time Boston finisher, a four-time Chicago finisher, a three-time New York City finisher and a three-time finisher of the 48.6-mile Disney Marathon series, and has completed the Marine Corps 50K ultra and several 70.3-mile Half Ironman triathlons. Of the roughly 5,000 runners who have completed all seven World Marathon Majors, five are amputees and two are double amputees. Cedric is one of the two. He is currently training for his first full 140.6-mile Ironman.

Cedric serves on the Board of Directors of Achilles International and races with the Achilles Freedom Team, sits on the Gary Sinise Foundation's Ambassadors Council, and is an ambassador for Semper Fi & America's Fund.

Cedric has been married to his wife, Khieda King, since October 2000. They have two daughters, Amari and Khayma.

Stage introduction

Retired Army Master Sergeant. Ranger. Two legs lost to an IED in Afghanistan. Boston Marathon finisher 21 months later, and one of only two double amputees ever to finish all seven World Marathon Majors. Please welcome Master Sergeant Cedric King.