Meet The Minnesota Fox 9 Host Making History In Paralympic Coverage In 2026

There are moments in life that change everything in an instant.

For Minnesota’s Courtney Godfrey, one of those moments happened on what was supposed to be a perfect day on the water. Now, less than a decade later, she’s heading to one of the biggest stages in the world: the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. And her story? It’s one you won’t forget.

FOX 9'S COURTNEY GODFREY GETS BIG HONOR

Courtney Godfrey, a familiar face from Fox 9 in the Twin Cities, has been named one of NBC’s hosts for the Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina. It’s a huge honor. But what makes it even more meaningful is the road she took to get there.

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Back in September of 2017, Godfrey was out on Christmas Lake with her husband and family, doing what so many Minnesotans love. Wakeboarding. Laughing. Enjoying a beautiful day.

And then, in a split second, everything changed. She was thrown from the boat and struck by the propeller. When she resurfaced, she knew immediately that her foot was gone.

WHAT COMES NEXT

It’s hard to even imagine that moment. The shock. The fear. The uncertainty of what comes next. But if you have learned anything about Courtney Godfrey, you know what came next wasn’t defeat. It was strength.

Before surgery, she told doctors something incredibly human and heartbreakingly honest. She hoped they could save her foot because she loved wearing shoes and wanted to wear two again someday.

But that wasn’t the outcome. Her leg was amputated below the knee.

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KEEPING A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE

Instead of asking “why me,” Courtney made a decision. She chose positivity. While many people would understandably be overwhelmed, she stayed hopeful, kept a positive perspective, and focused on purpose. She even said early on that she believed something good WOULD come from something so terrible.

And it certainly did. The amputee community showed up for her in a big way. People she had never met came to her hospital room. Paralympians reached out. Others who had lived through similar trauma reminded her that life wasn’t over.

In fact, it was just different. That support helped reshape her path.

COURTNEY BRINGS HER POSITIVITY TO THE GLOBAL STAGE

Now, Courtney has the honor of bringing that lived experience to the global stage. At the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, she’ll be one of the voices helping tell the stories of athletes who have faced adversity, pushed through it, and reached the highest levels of competition.

A FIRST IN OLYMPIC HISTORY

She’ll be joined by an incredible team that includes fellow Paralympians and broadcasters, but this year marks something historic. For the first time ever, NBCUniversal’s Paralympic coverage will feature disabled hosts leading the broadcast.

That means the stories will be told by people who truly understand them, and Courtney Godfrey is right at the heart of that moment, from a life-altering accident on a Minnesota lake to representing athletes from around the world on one of the biggest stages in sports.

Our congratulations and thanks go out to Courtney Godfrey for overcoming obstacles and showing others that they can do it too. Have a blast, Courtney!!!!