When life pushed Paul Rosen to the brink, he found himself clinging to three simple words: “Never give up.” For him, these words have become a way of life.
A decorated Paralympian, motivational speaker, and sports broadcaster, Rosen has faced adversity that many can’t imagine. From losing his leg early in life to battling depression and surviving a harrowing suicide attempt, his story is one of resilience—learning to rise up when hope seems lost. Rosen’s life, marked by loss, triumph, and unwavering strength, is a testament to the power of never giving up.
Paul Rosen’s story isn’t simply about athletic achievement; it’s about the relentless pursuit of hope in the face of unimaginable odds. His journey, shaped by his mantra of “never give up,” is one of survival and strength. Through his candid speaking, Rosen invites others to confront their own struggles and find the courage to keep going, proving that resilience is as much about the quiet victories as it is about the triumphs seen on the world stage.
In the early days of his hockey career as a goalie, Rosen quickly established himself as an athlete who wouldn’t let his amputated leg define him. Competing in his first Paralympic Games, he earned a medal and later won gold, a triumph that came with its own trials. Reflecting on his journey, Rosen said, “Fifteen hearts, one beat. We had fifteen players. We played for each other.” His humility grounds him, no matter how high he climbed or how tough the battle got.
However, despite his athletic success, Rosen’s life was far from perfect. Behind his achievements lay a daily struggle with mental health, culminating in a day he’ll never forget: January 30, 2019. Known across Canada as ‘Bell Let’s Talk Day,’ which encourages conversations about mental health, it became the scene for one of his darkest moments. “Demons, depression, suicide, it all doesn’t care. It does not matter who you are,” he reflects.
Following his suicide attempt, his openness about that moment isn’t easy, but Rosen believes it’s crucial. “Just because you see somebody that looks a little different, take an opportunity to look in the mirror. Every single person on the face of this earth is going through something.”
“No matter what’s happened to me, no matter what tomorrow will bring, if I get through it and God wants me on this earth still, I will never give up,” said Rosen, who shares his journey of recovery and self-reflection openly in his book Never Give Up, co-written with broadcaster and author Roger Lajoie. “If I can change one person’s life in my talk [or book], then I’ve done it,” he says.
Despite not being able to meet in person due to the pandemic, Rosen and Lajoie wrote much of the book over the phone, determined to bring Rosen’s story to the public. “It wasn’t easy. We had enough for 400 pages,” Rosen recalled. “But Roger’s most successful books[…,] they stayed under 200 pages. He wanted a book where somebody could start reading it, and before they knew it, they read the book.”
Every story, every page, represents a piece of Rosen’s journey.
Rosen also took on a new role as a broadcaster, bringing the same passion that defined his career as a goalie. After calling 22 games in just six days, he realized that broadcasting demands mental stamina and resilience. One of his reasons for turning to broadcasting was he wanted to “show himself he could go from tragedy to triumph, like [he’s] done his whole life.”
Two weeks after his book was published, Rosen had a relapse that led to hospitalization. It was there he recognized the importance of relying on others, a lesson that changed his life. He talked about how it’s essential to ask for help and to realize you don’t have to face challenges alone. One message he made clear is that no matter what one is dealing with, there’s always someone willing to listen and support, and Rosen strives to be one of those people.
Beyond his achievements, Rosen advocates for mental health. His resilience and faith in others is key to his motivational speaking. He embraces the challenges he’s faced, using them to guide his efforts. “If my story helps even one person keep going, then I know it was all worth it.”
“Rosen’s story inspired, comforted and awed me. Perhaps that is because I could relate to it,” said Simone Joseph, who wrote a piece about Rosen for YorkRegion.com, after an accident left Joseph with a prosthetic arm.
For Rosen, resilience isn’t about grand achievements but rather recognizing small victories and taking life one day at a time. As he explained: “Some days, just getting out of bed is a victory, and that’s okay.”
With upcoming Paralympic events and a packed schedule of motivational speaking engagements, Rosen remains committed to his journey. His message? No matter where life can take you, someone is never too big to do the small things, and you’re never beyond asking for help. “It’s about pushing forward every day. I may stumble, but I won’t stay down,” he reflected.
Rosen’s life is a testament to resilience, about finding strength and courage in adversity and taking pride in the small tasks. Rosen has learned that we can all rise, no matter how many times we fall, and “That’s what ‘never give up’ means to me.”