Paralympic Champion Brenna Huckaby On The Power Of Nutrition, Balance, And Cat Naps

Three-time Paralympic gold medalist Brenna Huckaby isn’t just training for another shot at glory, but she’s redefining what it means to fuel greatness both on and off the slopes. Ahead of the upcoming Winter Games, The Blast caught up with the powerhouse snowboarder to talk about her partnership with Nulo’s “Fuel Incredible” campaign, her unshakable mindset, and the unexpected source of comfort that keeps her grounded: her cat, Mouse.

For Huckaby, who lost her right leg to osteosarcoma at age 14, resilience isn’t a slogan, but it’s her foundation. “I think trying to be a solid example for kids who lost mobility through whatever, cancer or accident, is what’s fueled me,” she told The Blast. “We don’t know what our limits are until we find them. And I’m still figuring out where mine are.”

Now a five-time World Champion and mother of two, Huckaby’s training routine is as relentless as her mindset. With competition season about to begin, she’s laser-focused on “getting her feet back under her board," but this time, with a new priority in mind. “My biggest goal this season is to have more fun,” she admitted. “There’s always room for more joy in this sport, and I really want to enjoy it all a little more.”

As part of Nulo’s “Fuel Incredible” campaign, Huckaby joins six other Team USA athletes spotlighting the connection between peak performance and pet companionship. For her, the message hits close to home. “I became a crazy cat lady overnight,” Huckaby joked. “I wasn’t even a cat person two years ago, but now I can’t imagine life without Mouse. She’s my goddess and my diva.”

The partnership also helped Huckaby draw a powerful parallel between her own nutrition and her pet’s wellness. “I’ve been working on my own fueling, putting in all this gym time and not seeing the same payoff,” she explained. “Then I realized, nutrition matters. It’s the same for Mouse. When I switched her to Nulo, her coat was shinier, her energy was better, and it reminded me that we’re all animals at the end of the day. We are what we eat.”

For Huckaby, true success has nothing to do with the color of her medals. “There’s so much you can’t control with an outcome-based goal, like a medal,” she said. “But you can control how you show up every day. The choices you make for your well-being, your mental health, and your physical health.”

Since her first Paralympic Games in 2018, Huckaby’s been focused on a holistic approach to competition. “I’ve really got it dialed in now,” she said with a grin. “I just keep asking myself, how can I make it even better?”

In between training, traveling, and raising two daughters, Huckaby has learned that slowing down is just as important as pushing forward, and Mouse helps remind her of that daily. “She naps all the time, and I used to feel guilty for resting,” Huckaby admitted. “But watching her made me realize, sometimes resting is what you need to be doing. You don’t have to be ‘doing, doing, doing’ all the time to be worthy.”

She added with a laugh, “She’s not a huge cuddler, but I force her to be. I work hard for her purrs. It’s a good reminder to pause and appreciate the moment.”

When asked what advice she’d give to young girls or aspiring athletes facing their own challenges, Huckaby didn’t hesitate. “It’s good to have plans and goals,” she said. “But life may go in a direction you never thought possible — and that doesn’t mean it can’t still be amazing. Be fluid. That’s the beauty of it. You don’t always know where you’ll end up, and that’s what makes it worth living.”

As for what’s next? Huckaby says she’s not slowing down anytime soon. “I want to keep competing and keep showing up for brands that represent disability in new ways,” she told The Blast. “If people can see themselves represented, they’re more likely to go for it. And that’s what it’s all about, showing others that anything is possible.”

Whether she’s chasing gold on the slopes or cuddling on the couch, Brenna Huckaby’s story is proof that strength and softness can coexist, and that sometimes, the best training partners have whiskers.