Missing limbs won't deter athlete from attempting to summit Kilimanjaro

[n2doc]

By Lynn Peisner
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A throng of reporters with cameras, microphones and notebooks surrounded Kyle Maynard on a warm October morning at Stone Mountain. They were there to watch the 25-year-old athlete, who was born without full-length arms and legs, train for his next challenge: climbing to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in January.


The Buford resident was sitting on a blanket in the parking lot of Confederate Hall, unpeeling rolls of Gorilla Tape, a slightly stronger, more durable version of duct tape. The tape secured bits of canvas, thick chunks of foam padding, and pieces of mountain bike tires to the ends of his limbs.

He told the reporters these make-shift, low-tech materials are all he needs to make it up the 19,341-foot Uhuru Peak. When he gets there, he will be the first quadruple amputee to touch “the roof of Africa,” as Kilimanjaro is known, and the first person with such a disability to top any one of the Seven Summits, the highest mountains of each continent.

The fact that he doesn’t need any fancy gear is part of Maynard’s practically patented “no-excuses” philosophy about life.

more
http://www.ajc.com/sports/missing-limbs-wont-deter-1229859.html

[kestrel91316]

1. I wish him luck. Kilimanjaro is one LONG haul.

[Antifa919]

2. Very inspirational

I can't even clim Mr. Kilimanjaro with all four limbs. If he makes it it would be quite the accomplishment.

[johnb72341js]

3. sweet