More Than a Speaker.
Living Proof It's Possible.
From West Point
to the Podium
At 25, Steve Emt was a former West Point cadet and UConn basketball player with everything ahead of him. A split-second decision to drive drunk left him paralyzed from the waist down, and left Steve with a decision of his own to make.
"I didn't choose what happened to me. I chose what I did next, and that's the only decision that has ever mattered."
Steve Emt
Today, Steve is one of the most requested voices in the country on decision-making, accountability, and resilience. His talks and his book, You D.E.C.I.D.E., are built around the same six-step framework he used to rebuild his own life: a practical plan audiences can put to use the moment they leave the room.
FROM WEST POINT
TO THE PODIUM
West Point Cadet & UConn Forward
Before the crash, Steve's path ran through West Point and UConn basketball. He walked on to the UConn program without a scholarship, earning his spot through sheer determination. Discipline and competition were already second nature. The foundation was there, he just didn't know yet what he'd need it for.
The Decision That Changed Everything
At 25, a drunk-driving crash left Steve paralyzed from the waist down. What came next wasn't a sentence. It was a choice. He chose to become the hero of his own story rather than the victim of someone else's mistake.
Middle School Teacher & High School Coach
Steve rebuilt his life in the classroom and on the sideline, teaching the same accountability he now speaks about nationwide. The kids didn't know they were watching someone use his own six-step framework in real time.
3× U.S. Paralympic Team
Steve represented Team USA in wheelchair curling across three Paralympic Games, most recently the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. Not just a participant: a competitor who showed up to win.
12× U.S. National Champion
A 12-time national curling champion and multiple-time world championship competitor for Team USA. The man who started over from a hospital bed became one of the most decorated adaptive athletes in American history.
You D.E.C.I.D.E.: The Book
Steve's book distills the six-step framework he used to rebuild after paralysis. A practical guide for readers of any age. Not a story about surviving. A plan for becoming who you were always capable of being.
4th Place at Milan-Cortina 2026
At the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, Steve and Team USA delivered the highest finish in U.S. Wheelchair Curling history. Fourth place. One inch from a bronze medal. That inch isn't a loss. It's a target. The next stop is France 2030, and the podium is the only option.
Ready to Book Steve for Your Event?
Tell us about your school, team, or organization and Steve will help find the right program.