Kyle Maynard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kyle Maynard
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| Born | March 24, 1986 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Motivational speaker, author, No Excuses CrossFit gym owner |
| Awards | 2004 ESPY-Best Disabled Athlete, National Wrestling Hall of Fame, GNC's Worlds Strongest Teen, Presidents Award for the Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame, U.S. Jaycees Top Ten Outstanding Young Americans. 2012 ESPY-Male Athlete with a Disability |
Kyle Maynard (born March 24, 1986) is an American speaker, author, and athlete. He is famous for being the first person without arms or legs to climb Mount Kilimanjaro without using any special equipment like prosthetics. Kyle was born with a condition called congenital amputation, which means his arms and legs did not fully develop before he was born. Despite this, he has achieved amazing things in sports and in life. He also owns a gym called No Excuses CrossFit.
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A Determined Athlete
Even though he was born without full limbs, Kyle wanted to play sports. When he was 11, he played nose tackle in a youth football league. In high school, he discovered a passion for wrestling. He worked hard and became a very successful wrestler, winning 36 matches in his senior year.
Kyle also started lifting weights. He became so strong that he was named GNC's World's Strongest Teen. He did this by bench pressing 240 pounds (109 kg) for 23 repetitions.
Awards and Recognition
In 2004, Kyle won an ESPN Espy Award for Best Athlete With A Disability. He was also given the President's Award for the Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. After high school, he attended the University of Georgia and was on their wrestling team for a short time. He soon began a career as a motivational speaker, sharing his inspiring story with people all over the world. He appeared on famous TV shows like The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live.
Author of 'No Excuses'
In 2005, Kyle wrote a book about his life called No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life. The book became a New York Times Bestseller, which means it was one of the most popular books in the country.
Because of his incredible achievements in wrestling, he was welcomed into the Georgia State Wrestling Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was named one of the Top Ten Outstanding Young Americans by the U.S. Jaycees.
Fighting in Mixed Martial Arts
In 2005, Kyle began training in mixed martial arts (MMA), a sport that combines different fighting styles. At first, he was not allowed to compete in his home state of Georgia. So, he decided to have his first fight in Alabama, where the rules were different.
On April 25, 2009, he had his first amateur MMA fight. Even though he lost the match, he showed incredible courage and determination. A documentary film called A Fighting Chance was made in 2010 about his journey in MMA.
Mixed Martial Arts Record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 1 match | 0 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 0 | 0 |
| By submission | 0 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0-1 | Bryan Fry | Decision (unanimous) | April 25, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Auburn, Alabama |
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
In 2011, Kyle announced an amazing new goal: he would climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. He planned to do it without the help of prosthetic limbs. Instead, he would crawl to the top.
Preparing for the Climb
To get ready, Kyle trained on mountains across the United States. He and his team had to create special gear to protect his body. They used materials like rubber bicycle tires and heavy-duty tape. A company called Orthotic Specialists later designed custom equipment for his arms and legs using strong rubber soles.
The climb was also a mission to help wounded American soldiers. Kyle's team included former military members, and they donated $25,000 in medical supplies to a school for blind children in Tanzania.
Reaching the Summit
On January 6, 2012, Kyle and his team began their climb. They expected it to take 16 days. But Kyle was faster than anyone imagined. In just 10 days, he crawled all 19,340 feet to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. He reached the summit on January 15, 2012.
For this incredible achievement, he won a second ESPY Award in 2012 for Best Male Athlete with a Disability.
Inspiring Millions
In 2008, Kyle opened his own gym called No Excuses Crossfit in Suwanee, Georgia, to help others become strong and healthy.
In 2016, Kyle was featured in a popular commercial for Nike. The video, part of Nike's "Unlimited" series, showed his amazing spirit and has been watched by millions of people online. Kyle continues to inspire people around the world to live with "no excuses."
See also
In Spanish: Kyle Maynard para niños
