Russell Gernaat

Russell created the web portal and all of the company’s internal tools to manage the content of Coupons.com. He also holds a patent for digital coupon clearing. He has many hobbies including RC boats, planes, cars, and trucks, 3D printing, brewing beer, roasting coffee, shooting archery, playing pickleball, and cycling. Russell said he also has way too many tabletop board games. Russell said there were no para sports when he was young, and in fact, never considered himself disabled in any fashion in spite of being born missing some muscles and having some range of motion challenges. His world of competition was just like everyone else, and his arena of choice when he was younger was to be Special Forces in the military. While his “disabilities” could have had him disqualified for service, he managed to get in and was able to attend US Navy Seal training - BUDS class 159. Russell believes that he is the only disabled person ever to enter the training, and in fact, was essentially disqualified but found his way around the system. "Where there is a will there is a way!" Rowing was something that caught Russell’s eye but he never had the chance to try it until 2016, shortly after his wife had passed away from cancer. He doesn’t have a personal hero, saying “I've never revered a single person much. Don't get me wrong, there may be plenty of worthy choice, but its more the about attitude and culture. I have always appreciated truly talented people who strive to be the best they can be, so whether its art, music, sports, or its just big brain stuff (science, mathematics, etc.), they all become the ‘heroes’ to me. Once he’s done rowing, he wants to focus on roasting coffee and trying to grow a small business from that. Russell said his favorite place to compete to date was South Korea, but he enjoys each place for what it has to offer that is different from the rest. He lists his best Olympic/Paralympic experience as the Team USA week in Washington DC post games. Because of covid, the event was delayed until after the Winter Olympic Games and then had both winter and summer athletes attend. Because he enjoys people and experiences, Russell said it was great to be able to mingle with the winter athletes during that time.