Monday, July 14, 2025
102 F
Roseville

Athlete Kyle Maynard Revisited (Part 2)

Last week, I shared the first of two columns featuring 26-year-old Kyle Maynard of Georgia, who was born with amniotic band syndrome resulting in all his limbs being congenitally amputated at birth, with his arms completely amputated at the elbows and legs at knees.

He has been interviewed by Oprah and Larry King, been a top high school wrestler, and climbed Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro. To get around, he crawls on all fours or uses a manual wheelchair. He also is a motivational speaker.

I promised last week to share more about how he came to terms with his disability.

He said, “In my public speaking, I tell different stories about experiences that led me through the process of (self) acceptance. At some point, I realized I had to accept myself first before someone would accept me. In one story I tell, my grandmother used to take me into grocery stores and we would go up and down the aisles together shopping for dinner. She would set me in the front of the cart. I would introduce myself to people in the aisle and say ‘Hi, I’m Kyle.’ My grandmother said once people hear your voice, see your face, and shake your hand, the disability will fade away and they won’t pay attention to it.”

Maynard attributed much of his self-acceptance to the positive and accepting attitudes of his parents, sisters, friends, teammates, and coaches.

He added, “I was 18 when I first started speaking and getting more media attention. That was tough because I had been a wrestler all through high school and (suddenly) went from being a wrestler to an ‘inspiration.’ I just wanted to be Kyle. Starting that new public speaking career was an especially tough period. It took me a while for me to accept that my story could help others. Then I realized that, in a lot of respects, it was my own insecurity keeping me from seeing it. Eventually, I had to realize the public speaking wasn’t about me, but about the effect my story would have on someone else.”

As advice to a parent of a child with a disability, he said, “If your child’s whole awareness is on his disability, it’s almost as if that awareness will draw other people’s attention towards it.” He suggested that one key to his success has been developing an identity that isn’t based on his disability.



Mendocino 2025

Fleming's Roseville

New Summer Menu!

🍎 Gravenstein Apple Fair

Trending

Roseville Splash Event 2025 celebrates 29th year this September

Roseville, Calif- Mark your calendar for September 13, 2025 for Splash as the City of Roseville and Roseville Area Chamber join forces for an evening of unlimited drinking, eating and dancing at the Roseville Aquatic Center.

2025 Nominations Open for Rocklin’s Wall of Recognition

Rocklin, Calif. - The City of Rocklin is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Wall of Recognition, a monument dedicated on the 125th anniversary of Rocklin's incorporation.

Mendocino’s Stanford Inn by the Sea: Glorious destination to heal mind and body

Mendocino, Calif. - A luxurious resort which also happens to be 100% plant-based and at the cutting-edge of sustainability, Stanford Inn by the Sea Historic Farm and Eco-resort is a place for guests to recharge and find connection

Depression and Diet: A Nutritional Connection

Sacramento, Calif.- Although there is rarely a single cause of depression, a poor diet often plays a significant role. A deficiency in even one essential nutrient can alter brain function and contribute to depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders.

Fresh Green Cleaners Blue Oaks on Roseville Parkway

Fresh Green Cleaners Blue Oaks in west Rosevillle at the Campus Oaks Shopping Center.

Topics

Roseville Splash Event 2025 celebrates 29th year this September

Roseville, Calif- Mark your calendar for September 13, 2025 for Splash as the City of Roseville and Roseville Area Chamber join forces for an evening of unlimited drinking, eating and dancing at the Roseville Aquatic Center.

2025 Nominations Open for Rocklin’s Wall of Recognition

Rocklin, Calif. - The City of Rocklin is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Wall of Recognition, a monument dedicated on the 125th anniversary of Rocklin's incorporation.

Mendocino’s Stanford Inn by the Sea: Glorious destination to heal mind and body

Mendocino, Calif. - A luxurious resort which also happens to be 100% plant-based and at the cutting-edge of sustainability, Stanford Inn by the Sea Historic Farm and Eco-resort is a place for guests to recharge and find connection

Depression and Diet: A Nutritional Connection

Sacramento, Calif.- Although there is rarely a single cause of depression, a poor diet often plays a significant role. A deficiency in even one essential nutrient can alter brain function and contribute to depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders.

Fresh Green Cleaners Blue Oaks on Roseville Parkway

Fresh Green Cleaners Blue Oaks in west Rosevillle at the Campus Oaks Shopping Center.

Blossoms & Balloons Florist in Roseville

Order fresh flower arrangements and get same-day flower delivery from the premier Roseville florist, Blossoms & Balloons Florist.

Mattress Firm Rocklin on Five Star Blvd

Mattress Firm in Rocklin, CA, offers premium mattresses with free shipping.

Ioniq 9 latest Hyundai electric vehicle

Check out the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9, which the company began selling in May 2025. It's an appealing large three-row electric SUV that might eventually become the top-selling Ioniq.

Related Articles

Local Spotlight

California Fence and Patio serving Placer County for over 30 years

Loomis, Calif. - California Fence & Patio is proud of their reputation as the premier fencing and patio cover contractor in the Roseville,, Sacramento and Placer County region.

Roseville Sheet Metal serving community’s heating and air needs for over 70 years

Roseville, Calif. - At Roseville Sheet Metal, we’re proud of our years of service to the Roseville area and look forward to helping you with your air conditioning and heating needs.

Paul Black’s Solar Panel Cleaning in Roseville serving the region for over 30 years

Roseville, Calif. - Money-saving solar panels in Roseville, Rocklin and throughout South Placer County have become ubiquitous From new residential solar communities continue to big business and after market installation, solar seems to be a smart choice to shred those high monthly electric costs.