[g6]katy pettinger weightlifting-pkg what would you do if your existence became defined by a moment?

Pettinger says, "i don't remember this part of it, but i've had several people tell me that were there in you from doing what you love.

Katy says, "the gym and lifting weights has been one of my hobbies since i was a kid."

29-year-old katy pettinger is a world record holding weight lifter... the owner of ironside fitness in brookings ... and someone who didn't let her lowest moment dictate the terms of her life.

On june second, 2018, katy crashed while learning how to ride a motorcycle.

Katy says, "this is the hand rail that i went through."

She was throttled into the air, hit the back of a truck and shredded an artery in her right leg.... a leg that seven hours later would have to be amputated.

Katy says, "there was nothing that they could've done, even if it happened right outside the hospital to save the leg, so it was either my leg or my life."

The accident happened in the parking lot right outside her gym ... and katy took me to the exact spot.

Jake says, "big movements come from dramatic moments, which is why katy says she doesn't feel a thing when she comes out to the sight of the accident."

Katy says, "i find it more fascinating than anything that you can go through something like this and survive it."

The emotional recovery took time, but katy not only survived... she succeeded... two months later, she returned to work at her gym and returned to working out.... this april, she competed in the world association of benchers and deadlifters championships in portland... her coach and minister edward yeager right by her side.

Edward says, "you're dropping the pebble at this meet and watch the ripples and those ripples will reach out and touch others."

Katy proceeded to break state, national and world records... in both disabled and open classifications.

Katy says, "i was like, 'ok.

Here we go.'

And i lifted it and i didn't waver, i didn't stumble, i didn't feel like i was going to fall at all."

She became what's believed to be the first case ever, where a woman with one leg performed a deadlift without a prosthetic.

Edward says, "if you were at the meet or you saw the footage of the meet, you would see everyone in the audience in awe."

Katy says, "the competition changed everything.

When i went and i did that, i've never looked back at regret or frustration in the event of my leg."

Katy wants to be more than just a billboard for inspiration.

The process of healing is complicated.

Katy says, "there's a time to mourn and stay in that and let yourself go through it because it's important, don't ignore it."

But she's reached the other side.

Katy says, "once it's over, step out of it and don't go back to it."

An outpouring of support from the brookings community was crucial.

Katy says, "i was blown away, i just.... there was so much love.

You live in a community your whole life and you don't know who's going to be there for you and there wasn't one person, not one person that didn't reach out, show up, or give something."

Katy's accident changed her life forever... it also sharpened her outlook.

Katy says, "i am so blessed through all of this.

How many people get to see how many people love them?"

One strong leg to stand on... one strong message to stand with.

In brookings, jake garcia, newswatch 12.

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