TRUE GRIT Triumph in Adversity
The Zion Clark Story
Photo credit: inews.co.uk
When it comes to undeniable strength, determination and sacrifice, no one embodies these terms better than Zion Clark. He’s a 24 -year-old phenom in sports who happens to live with caudal regression syndrome, a condition that causes the bottom half of one’s body to not fully develop. Born to a drug-addicted mother who gave him up for adoption, Zion suffered even more hardship when he was bullied and abused at his various foster homes. The kids were mean and didn’t understand how to fight him, so they became even meaner. Not being easily shaken, Zion suppressed his emotions and used them to express himself in various sports, where he began setting records and making a name for himself. The once-bullied athlete ended up being adopted into a loving family at the age of 17, and soon, his childhood interest in wrestling landed him a spot on his high school varsity team where he set a record of 33-15 by the time he graduated. With
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Photo credit: Kent State University
By Kristen Jones
a stable household, he was also able to focus on his academics and on the track; in 2021, he became the fastest man on two hands (for 20 meters), making it into the Guinness World Records. A brief Netflix documentary about him simply titled ZION was released in 2018, providing many people their first glimpse of this young man’s incredible character and grit. His book Zion Unmatched also chronicles his
struggles and let’s readers see him for the kind-hearted young man he is. More than just a sports star and fighter, he’s also entered the dating field lately and shows off his girlfriend on social media. While the odds were truly against him at an early age, with a loving partner by his side cheering him on and thousands of people coming together to support him, there is nothing Zion cannot do.
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