Man Born Without Legs Is Now A Pro Freestyle Wrestler

A man who was born without leg has praised his foster family for supporting him to become a freestyle wrestler.

Zion Clark, 22, was born with a rare genetic disorder called Caudal Regression Syndrome, which impairs development in the lower part of the spine.

But Zion, who lives in Ohio, has managed to overcome the odds and is now a successful pro freestyle wrestler - he's even the subject of a Netflix documentary about his life.

Growing up in foster care, Zion says he was often bullied by other kids for having no legs, but his foster mum Kimberlli, who later adopted him, would also be there to cheer him on.

In an interview in the Daily Mail, Zion said: "I started wrestling in second grade. When I was really little, the first few matches, I didn't know what to do and neither did my opponent.

"Some kids were scared to wrestle me - I was scared to wrestle them. I didn't know what I was doing.

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"I adapted my wrestling by a lot of trial and error. Spent years figuring out what would work.

"I now train twice a day, about six days a week. It's a grind, it's a lifestyle.

"Being born without legs hasn't stopped me from doing the things I want to do."

Zion says that people used to pick on him for having no legs but think that the 'best way to deal with haters is to use the hate to lift yourself up'.

Despite having a bad time at school, Zion says he was able to turn it around in senior year, study hard and earn himself a place at college.

Modest Zion credits the love and support of Kimberlli saying she is 'the greatest woman' he knows.

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Now Zion is thinking ahead for what his future holds and where his career may take him.

He added: "My dreams and ambitions? One day, to make the Olympic team and be one of the best freestyle wrestlers in the world.

"The biggest lesson I've had to learn is that things won't always go your way.

"You have to work with what you've got.

"Once you're able to work with what you have, multiple doors just start to open."

Topics: SPORT, Daily Ladness, Inspirational

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19