Steve
Serio
Finding Freedom Through Sport
Explore Steve’s story below.
Sport
Wheelchair Basketball
Born
September 9, 1987
Hometown
Westbury, NY
Paralympic Games
2008, 2012, 2016
Vehicle
Avalon Hybrid
Steve’s Paralympic Journey
Steve was paralyzed and classified with incomplete paraplegia after spinal surgery when he was 11 months old. Although he grew up with an impairment, sports were still a way Steve could interact with his able-bodied friends. Searching for an athletic outlet in high school, he signed up for wheelchair basketball and fell in love with the sport.
I’ll never be able to repay this game for what it’s given me.
Road to Tokyo
While playing for the University of Illinois in college, Steve knew wheelchair basketball was something he wanted to do full time. He knew he owed it to himself, his friends and family to push his limits on and off the court. Steve has seen success all around the world, played professionally in Germany and competed in three Paralympic Games. For Steve, sports gives him the strength to embrace what makes him different and use it to empower himself along with generations of adaptive athletes who should be demanding more from this life. His larger goal is to grow the adaptive sports movement, so that each and every person with an impairment feels empowered to demand more from this life.
STEVE’S AVALON
Purpose meets performance.
“The biggest surprise is how much space my Avalon has to accommodate both my everyday wheelchair and my basketball wheelchair.”
2019 vehicle loaned to athlete
Driven to do more.
"My Avalon looks so sleek and modern. I love driving a hybrid because of the environmental aspect as well."
2019 vehicle loaned to athlete
Avalon Hybrid Stats
MPG COMBINED
43
CARGO VOL. (CU. FT.)
16.09
AIRBAGS
10
2020 Avalon Hybrid helps maximize fuel efficiency in ECO Mode or can run entirely on the electric motor, under certain conditions, to help reduce noise and emissions when switched to EV Mode. From its compact battery and lightweight power control unit to its auto-glide control that promotes efficient coasting, Avalon Hybrid has up to an impressive estimated 44 hwy mpg.
Stay Up to Speed
Follow Steve’s journey.