SCI Superstar: Jess Markt

If Jess Markt were a social media junkie, you probably would’ve heard about him, but he has kept a quiet profile over the years. Since 2009 until 2021, he traveled to Afghanistan dozens of times to teach the men and women with disabilities, many with paralysis, how to play wheelchair basketball. He not only transformed lives, he transformed his own. Read on for his story.

Why He’s fearless

Jess, a paraplegic since he was injured a car accident at the age of 19, was athletic before his injury and a rising long jumper at the University of Oregon. After waking up 2 weeks post-injury and told he’d never walk again, Jess was determined to not sulk. Instead, he made his injury a challenge to overcome.

Jess quickly fell in love with a wheelchair basketball. After realizing he had a natural talent for it, he wanted to play on a top team, but that wasn’t possible in Oregon, so he moved to New York City and joined the New York Rollin’ Knicks where he played for 3 years as a small forward before moving to Boulder, Colorado.

NYC is when his story takes a turn. The International Red Cross was looking for someone to travel to Afghanistan to teach people there how to play the game, and they asked Jess. He was pumped at the opportunity, even though he had no coaching experience. After his first visit to Kabul, he was changed forever and went back several times.

Jess also helped them get better sports equipment. Whenever they would scrimmage, at least one chair would always break, and they’d run into each other while trying to play. Jess was able to get the International Red Cross to purchase 125 low-cost basketball wheelchairs ($280/chair), created by UK-based organization Motivation. Not surprisingly, film producers caught wind of Jess’ story and a documentary was made about his coaching called, “The League of Afghanistan.”

What’s Next?

After working with Red Cross for several years, teaching wheelchair basketball internationally, he was hired as the Disability Sport and Inclusion Specialist for the International Committee of the Red Cross. In this position, he has been able to teach wheelchair basketball in several other countries, including Sudan.

He in fact made a special connection with a like-minded soul in Sudan, and another documentary was made highlighting his coaching skills, “No Limits: Wheelchair Basketball in South Sudan.” Jess continues to changes lives through sport, and it has been amazing to watch.

Sadly, with the US pulling out of Afghanistan in 2021, Jess will be unable to coach in Afghanistan anytime soon. We know his work made a huge difference to those with disabilities living there, and we hope the strength they found through sport helps them in their country’s next chapter.

— Jess’s blog: Afghanistan Wheelchair Basketball Project

— No Limits: Wheelchair Basketball in South Sudan (Official Film)