Nick Westermeyer (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        Nick Westermeyer heard the words. He refused to believe them.

        “Doctors told me that I'd be dependent on somebody. I wouldn't be able to do anything by myself. I'd be strapped into my chair the rest of my life.”

        This was in 1991, after Mr. Westermeyer, a junior on the Michigan State University gymnastics team, suffered a spinal-cord injury during practice. The 1988 Colerain High grad was paralyzed from the neck down.

        Surgery stabilized his fifth and sixth vertebrae. Then he relied on the support of family and friends. And his own determination.

        “He was going to try out for the 1996 Olympics when he broke his neck and became paralyzed,” says his sister, Michelle Bultman, of Landen, also selected to carry the torch. “He is such an inspiration to me and to other people.”

        Mr. Westermeyer eventually regained the use of both arms. His right hand still doesn't work, but his left is about 75 percent. He can move his left leg just a little.

        “I had to learn how to do everything,” he says.

        Less than a year after the injury he returned to Michigan State and earned a degree in building construction management. He's now a purchasing agent for Tomak Precision, a Lebanon company that makes aircraft parts.

        A few weeks ago, he moved into a new home in Maineville. Aside from the wheelchair ramp out front, it doesn't look much different than any other house. Mr. Westermeyer, who is 31, lives there independently. One-hundred percent independently.

        Since his injury, he has become a certified scuba diver. He has sky dived. He has snow skied and water skied. He also competes in wheelchair races.

        “That's just my nature,” he says. “I want to do everything that I physically can. And if I can't do it, I'm going to figure out a way.”

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