My name is Richard Herskovitz. I am married, and the father of 3 beautiful children. I am also fortunate enough to be considered one of the top Amateur Natural Bodybuilders in the country. I am also an amputee.

In October 2005, I contracted a disease called Necrotizing Fasciitis, also known as “The Flesh Eating Bacteria”. I spent a total of 6 weeks in the University of Maryland Hospital’s Shock Trauma Center. I had 15 surgeries and spent hundreds of hours in a hyperbaric chamber, trying to save my leg. For the next 15 months, the doctors and I tried to save what was left of my leg. I went through 4 different skin graft surgeries during that time. After consulting many foot specialists, they all agreed that I would never again regain use of my foot and ankle. The disease had caused too much damage; I would never walk again using that disfigured foot.

In December of 2006, I had my right leg amputated below the knee. I had been a competitive bodybuilder before, but I had retired from competition in 2000. Before my amputation, I had set some goals for myself. One was to get on stage again as a bodybuilder. In May of 2007, I achieved that goal. I took home fifth place in Baltimore's Silver Cup Bodybuilding competition. Doing that show inspired me to keep training in order to improve my physique, and to become, once again, a top level bodybuilder, one who is confident enough to compete with any able-bodied person.

My original motivation to compete again was purely self-serving. I needed to raise my self-esteem. I wanted to be able to look at myself in the mirror and focus not on what I had lost, but on what I still had. I wanted my children to see me not as a father who had lost a leg, but as a father who could rise above a tragic situation and continue to move forward.

When I stepped on stage for the first time after the amputation, I could not believe the reaction of the crowd and of my fellow competitors. I realized for the first time that what I had achieved was not just about me, but something larger. People came up to me to say that they admired my courage, and that I was an inspiration. Their support motivated me to continue my quest to become a truly competitive bodybuilder.

In 2007, I was happy just to be back on stage. In 2008, I wanted to be competitive in the sport, and fortunately I have been successful. I have placed in the top 4 of every division in every competition that I have entered in this year.

I have achieved my personal goals, but I have not yet fulfilled my mission.
To inspire people who face physical obstacles to believe that:
Nothing Is Impossible