If you’re wondering if rock climbing has a Michael Jordan or a Tiger Woods, his name is Chris Sharma.

Back in 2005 Ben King first grabbed the spotlight when, as a high school sophomore, he won the grueling Wintergreen Ascent.

When most runners attempt their first marathon, they struggle to cross the finish line. When Steve Meinelt ran his first marathon, he qualified for the Olympic Trials. At 24, Meinelt is the youngest qualifier for this fall’s Olympic Marathon Trials.

Matt DeCanio is one of the most controversial people in cycling, mainly because his conscience wouldn’t allow his mouth to stay shut.

Leland Davis and Andria Baldovin know a little about taking risks. The class V kayakers regularly test their skills against some of the steepest rivers in the Southeast, and they hit the road each summer to paddle the best whitewater North America can offer.

On stage, Dave Matthews Band bassist Stefan Lessard hangs back, providing the low end of the grassroots groove. But when he’s not on tour, he likes to get outside and play, snowboarding from coast to coast and mountain biking wherever he can.

With four Ironman triathlons behind her, Girls on the Run founder Molly Barker would like nothing better than to help young girls achieve greatness and self respect through running.

Heath Calhoun never thought about cycling across the country—until he lost his legs. The Appalachian native—born in Bristol, Tenn., and raised in Grundy, Va.,—served as squad leader with the 3rd Battalion in Iraq for four months. But on November 7, 2003, a rocket-propelled grenade struck his convoy’s truck. His injuries were so severe that both of his legs had to be amputated...

Jonny Moseley made skiing cool. It wasn’t just about his 1998 Olympic Gold medal or multiple World Cup and U.S. Championships. It was about revolutionizing the sport with a wild 720-degree fringe move in the big moments—even if it meant getting snubbed by judges with a fourth place finish at the 2002 Olympics after nailing his patented “dinner roll.”

You might have seen him on 60 Minutes or read about him in The New York Times. But Jack Spadaro is no intentional celebrity. He’s just trying to do what he believes is right. The engineer from Hamlin, W.Va., is the former head of the National Mine Health and Safety Academy (MHSA), the branch of the Department of Labor that trains coal mining inspectors. He’s also one of the country’s most famous whistleblowers since Jeffrey Wigand cleared the smoke on big tobacco.

Rose Chilcoat doesn’t mind being called an old broad. She’s one of the outspoken leaders of the Great Old Broads for Wilderness—a national, grassroots nonprofit organization of mainly senior citizen women dedicated to protecting the roadless public lands of America.

Dave Linn doesn’t make excuses, and he doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him. The 31-year-old triathlete has endured a lifelong battle with Cerebral Palsy, but that hasn’t stopped him from breaking barriers for the disabled.

June 26, 2005 will long be remembered in the Blue Ridge as the best day women’s running history...Anne and Annette are good friends, tough competitors, and inspiring role models. They shared their post-race thoughts with BRO: