Gabe Marsh, a para-athlete swimmer from Guntersville High School, has been selected the 2023 national recipient of the “National High School Spirit of Sport Award” by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

According to a release from the NFHS, the “National High School Spirit of Sport Award” was created by the organization to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics.

Marsh was born with no legs and only one arm. After his birth mother gave him up, Gabe was adopted at four days of age by Ed and Ann Marsh, who have worked with nearly 50 foster children in their ministry and adopted several with special needs.

Ann Marsh believed that the foster children in their ministry should be able to swim and provided swimming lessons in their family pool. However, even they didn’t believe Gabe should be in the pool. When Gabe was 3 years old, Ann was working with other foster children in the pool and left Gabe poolside. Before she could stop him, he dove in the water and swam with one arm to her. From then on, it was clear Gabe belonged in the water.

Gabe began swimming competitively at 6 and developed into one of the top para-athlete swimmers in Alabama, winning state titles at the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Championship and the Alabama Para Olympics.

A 2022 graduate of Guntersville High, Gabe participated on the school’s swimming team for four years, competing in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. He often would record faster times than able-bodied swimmers in competition.

Gabe has competed in various Paralympic events, including the Canada-US Games in 2017 and the 2018 National Championships. His goal is to qualify for the U.S. Paralympic Team for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

While at Guntersville, Gabe became known as “Mr. Journalism” for his work with the local newspaper and he hopes to become a motivational speaker.

“He’s unintentionally been a hero to who knows how many,” Guntersville teacher Matt Holaday told the AHSAA. “He’s not trying to be a hero. He just loves living. He’s one of the finest fellas I’ve ever known, not because he’s overcome so much, but because he’s just a good dude.”

Nominations for the award come from NFHS member state associations and are reviewed by the NFHS National High School Spirit of Sport Award Selection Committee, composed of state association staff members. The national award winner will be recognized on June 28 at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Seattle.

One other Alabama athlete has been recognized as the national award winner since it was created in 2008, Hayden Holton of Elmore County High School in 2021.