Under My Skin

Omar Avila has had a life of service dedicated to his country and his fellow veterans. Avila joined the U.S. Army in 2004 as an Infantryman, deploying to Iraq in 2006. On May 14, 2006, his vehicle was struck with a 200 lb IED, resulting in burns to 75% of his body and amputation below the knee of his right leg. Upon retiring from the U.S. Army in 2010, Avila never allowed his injuries to slow his success. Powering through his injuries, he became the current world record holder for the World Association of Bench and Deadlift in the Paralympics category. Avila now serves to motivate wounded veterans, seeks to educate the public about veteran issues through numerous public speaking events, and is a sought-after motivational speaker. A lifelong avid hunter, Omar also spreads his passion for the outdoors by assisting wounded veterans. Avila was raised in Brownsville, TX and currently lives in New Braunfels, TX.