Chattanooga, Tenn. - When life throws its toughest punches, some people fight back harder. For 18-year-old Joel Westbrook, that fight has led to history-making achievements in karate — and now a spot on the world stage.

The backstory:

Westbrook, a Georgia Northwestern Technical College student, is the first male wheelchair athlete named to the U.S. Para Karate Team. Later this year, he’ll represent the country at the World Karate Championships in Cairo, all while preparing to graduate with his associate’s degree in December.

What they're saying:

"Being strong-willed, that’s what Joel means...and we picked that with purpose because we knew he was going to have a strong will to make it in this world," said his mother, Wendy Westbrook.

Born with spina bifida, Joel has faced challenges

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