Limbless HS wrestler at Ohio championships

IsUaClone2 · 03-08-2008, 08:32 PM

Dustin Carter lost his arms and legs to a rare blood disease but took up wrestling and made it to the state championships in his senior year. He won his first match at states to finish in the top 16.

CBS News has an outstanding video feature about him but I couldn't figure out how to get the link so I found this one on You Tube. It is truly amazing.

Link: YouTube - This kid is amazing. Dustin Carter

MidwestZest · 03-08-2008, 08:40 PM

wow!! he must be AMAZINGLY strong!

Scott34 · 03-09-2008, 01:12 PM

I just want to know is, how does his opponent take him down. He has such a low center of gravity it would be extremely hard to do anything. But truely an amazing guy and story.

Balls · 03-09-2008, 01:34 PM

I agree this kid is amazing at this is a feel good story for a guy who was given a hard break in life.

However, from his opponent's perspective it's got to be challenging. How do you plan / practice for such an opponent. Regular moves just wouldn't work. How do you get the in the right frame of mind. I remember wrestling a girl in 3rd grade and I thought it was hard to just have the same approach to the match. So to step on the mat with this guy has got to be tough.

Not taking anything away from this kids accomplishments.

1100011CS · 03-09-2008, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Balls

I agree this kid is amazing at this is a feel good story for a guy who was given a hard break in life.

However, from his opponent's perspective it's got to be challenging. How do you plan / practice for such an opponent. Regular moves just wouldn't work. How do you get the in the right frame of mind. I remember wrestling a girl in 3rd grade and I thought it was hard to just have the same approach to the match. So to step on the mat with this guy has got to be tough.

Not taking anything away from this kids accomplishments.

I was thinking the same thing.

ISUAlum2002 · 03-09-2008, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Balls

I agree this kid is amazing at this is a feel good story for a guy who was given a hard break in life.

However, from his opponent's perspective it's got to be challenging. How do you plan / practice for such an opponent. Regular moves just wouldn't work. How do you get the in the right frame of mind. I remember wrestling a girl in 3rd grade and I thought it was hard to just have the same approach to the match. So to step on the mat with this guy has got to be tough.

Not taking anything away from this kids accomplishments.

I agree. It sounds stupid, but it almost gives him an unfair advantage. Other wrestlers are used to having the hands and feet of their opponents to grab and make moves on. They have to completely change their approach to the match while he does not have to be concerned about that.

Same kind of thing goes for females getting into wrestling (saw this on Outside the Lines this morning). The guys they wrestle against can't feel comfortable grabbing on to them in the same manner they would against other males.

Props to him, though.

IsUaClone2 · 03-09-2008, 03:31 PM

Wrestling has had its share of uncommon or uncomfortable matches. I think there were two girls wrestling on boys HS teams here in Michigan this year. I think both got through or at least close to the end of the Districts before they got beat.

When I was in HS (58-62) there was a blind wrestler in Omaha. You were obligated to keep contact with him at all times. Also back in the day, there was no limit on weight for heavyweights. Our heavyweight didn't even weigh 200 pounds but had to face some seriously big dudes. Needless to say we weren't very good.

I also seem to remember some other amputees that wrestled.

The main thing I take away from this article and the other situations is that wrestling is a very demanding sport for someone that is not handicapped. These people that even participate under those conditions have real determination and grit. They are very likely to do well in the rest of their life because they accept the conditions and don't ask for favors. They just do it. You really have to respect them for their efforts even if they don't make it to the state championships. We need them more than we need the sifted prima donnas who want everyone to worship them. I'm glad some of these people are still around. There is hope for us yet.

illinoiscyclone · 03-10-2008, 12:17 AM

YouTube - Cincinnati Functional Fitness Session with Dustin Carter