Sports
Amazing: One-Armed Boy Wins Swimming Competition
- Posted on December 2, 2010 at 4:35pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Meet Jay Fleming. This summer he competed in the 9-10 year old 25 meter butterfly event at the Nashville City Swim Meet. But not only did he compete, he won — by three seconds:
UPDATE:
Reader Chris sends the following:
Your story is slightly wrong. He might’ve won, but the times on the board are not for that race. First off, he’s in lane 6 and the board is showing 8 lanes. Secondly, if you time the race, it only took about 17-18 seconds, versus the 30-45 seconds shown on the board. The board times are from the previous race and had not been updated yet, most likely. I just thought it was a bit deceiving and might need to be corrected.
Corrected.
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Comments (87)
Rob
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 8:17pmHe is swimming a different stroke…. not fair, but a warm feeling.
Report Post »cane1983
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 1:51amHis is not swimming a different stroke. Take a hard look at the leg kick and the stroke. Just because it is quick with only one arm it is still within the rules. By the way it is the Fly, not Breast stroke
Report Post »blessedmidwest
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 7:30pmMy 6-year-old kid has one arm, too. Not kidding. This video just choked me up, and later I’m going show it to him, and I will keep telling him that he can do anything that he puts his mind to.
Report Post »troyvar
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 7:16pmIt’s definitely the butterfly… Just showed the video to my 18 year old daughter, she’s been swimming competitively for 13 years, 5 of those for her high-school, and competed at state in the last 4 years. She was also a co-captain this year. She was actually cheering while watching, I also noticed a tear in her eye. Swimmers are a family, slightly different than any other sport. This kid is special.
Report Post »spookydude
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 7:13pmOh NO…these UNDESIRABLES….they always seem to OVERCOME…..we must Regulate the WILL out of them…..they are too dangerous….they motivate the MASSES…..they are RUINING the new WORLD ORDER…….
Report Post »ensemble
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:51pmShame on the putzes that have to ridicule this kid. They are ignorant of the breast stroke, someone yammered about the “head bob” ..the head bob only comes into play while taking breaths. The kid could hold his breath for a long time and that is what sealed the deal. You can only take breaths in a forward head motion, instead of a side head motion as in freestyle. The kick stroke and the breath head bob and the full rotation arm swing are what defines the breast stroke and the kid did everything correct within the guidelines of that stroke competition. And he is a great role model for kids who have to overcome a difficulty and still perform well. Good for him. And notice the other competitors did not have a problem with it..good for them.
Report Post »psCargile
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:45pmYeah, he has less surface area and hence less drag. I’d say he has an unfair advantage.
Report Post »not funny
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:53amWith one arm only, he has only half the power normally generated by the upper body. I’d call that a disadvantage.
Report Post »Massey-50
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:25pmWonder why he wore a shirt. Maybe self confidence. That causes more drag.
My boys used to shave there body hair to reduce drag.
The one arm power/drag things may cancel each other.
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:39pmWhy do you people continue on with the “ONLY IN AMERICA” line, like a bunch or parrots. There are thousands of times more heroic people in the rest of the world than here, open your eyes.
Who’s the idiot headline writer, the kid won by maybe 3 hundreths of a second.
Report Post »DagnysCousin
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:43pmYou’re the idiot, read the board at the end correctly
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 1:13amOur eyes allow us to see everything brilliantly, less the space between them.
Report Post »Massey-50
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:21pmGood thing you aren’t his motivation…. None of us Parrots or Idiots would have been able to read/see this wonderful display of courage.
Hard to say what makes me feel prouder, this disablde boy winning a race, or my own boys when they swam.
Hope you don’t have any children that need motivation!!!!!!
Report Post »koyettsu
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:33pmThat is the way Americans used to be, nothing was to difficult, there was always a way.
Report Post »akim
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:31pmHE WAS NOT REALLY SWIMMING THE BREAST STROKE.
That is why he won.
Report Post »Massey-50
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:15pmJust because you BOLD your comment, it don’t make it right. Try again!!
Report Post »cane1983
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 1:47amDo your homework. The event was the 25M Fly, not the breast stroke.
Report Post »cane1983
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 1:49amThey were swimming the Fly, not breast stroke. That is why he won. Look at the leg kick and the single arm motion. Won fair and square with officials in each lane watching. By the way, he has been disqualified in other meets due to not meeting the requirements fo the proper stroke. No favors done in this meet.
Report Post »Stephers
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:22pmThat is so cool. Keep it up, kiddo. The most inspiring person at my high school was a teacher with one arm: he lost his other in a logging accident, and was still more active than most two-armed people at the school. He built a house for his family and did all kinds of cool projects for missions work.
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:08pmthe human spirit never amazes me what it can do , good job kid and don t let life turn you into another victim….
Report Post »Rob
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:07pmNow he only has to give a leg to pay for Obama’s spending spree…
Report Post »salvawhoray
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:39pmwhen asked about what he thinks of “Obama” he said that he just hopes that obama will still be president when he gets older to vote so he can vote for him.
Report Post »not funny
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:50amNot relevant to this story.
Report Post »Honor2010
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:38pmLove it! Way to go!
Report Post »WTFurnuts
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:26pmWell, at least sofaking didn’t call him bob.
Report Post »sofaking obvious
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:04pmIf he was faster I’d call him Skip. :)
Report Post »avgconservative
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:18pmWow! Excellent! Praiseworthy!
Report Post »JimmyConway
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:13pmHello inspiration for the week.
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:11pmOne word comes to mind: WOW! God bless him!
Report Post »temple62
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:11pmI certainly hope he refrains from “Thanking God” for his win or the officials will cry foul and disqualify him and his awesome efforts.
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:05pmno, but I’ll call a foul!
Why sully such a great INDIVIDUAL acheivement of personal guts, hard work, determination and the “can-do spirit” by evoking something that had nothing to do with it?
The real classy thing to do is act like it ain’t no thing.
Modesty.
Not celebration.
then get out there and do it again
Report Post »JRserious
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:06pman A for effort, but…. he’s clearly not being held to the same standards of completing the breast stroke that the other kids are. have we become so politically correct now that fairness to the other kids no longer applies. someone had to say it. the kid could still outswim me though.
Report Post »not funny
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:15pmWhat are the “same standards”?
Report Post »JRserious
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:30pmsame standard means the same breast stroke that the other kids are completing. this is a competition. if a two armed swimmer swam the freestyle stroke instead of the breast stroke they would be disqualified. different standard. notice the other kids heads bobbing up and down in the water. they are doing the breast stroke. the winner did the free style. breast stroke is a slower more difficult stroke.
Report Post »DagnysCousin
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:46pmThey were doing the BUTTERFLY, not the breast stroke, and yes the kid was doing it as correctly as he could with only one arm.
Do you enjoy being the wetblanket in person too or just online where only your login id gets associated with your idiocy?
Report Post »BelowAverageJoe
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:54pmJRSERIOUS, You are a total stick in the mud. You shouldn’t pose as some sort of informed person on swimming styles and techniques as you clearly are incorrect about the style as others have aptly pointed out. Have a little heart man, for God’s sake.
Report Post »joan k
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 11:06pmHe is clearly swimming the BUTTERFLY stroke as best anyone could with only one arm. I would like to add that he is also swimming it legally even with one arm. My husband used to coach swimming and my child was a US swimmer all the way up and is now coaching swimming at a nationally ranked university.
Report Post »aaak
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 10:46amthe event was butterfly and they were all doing it. the head bobbing was to take a breath, this kid did not need as many breaths, which made him more competitive. you seem do stupid for commenting on something you either know nothing about or not even watching the video or worse yet, not being able to see what was in front of you
Report Post »Massey-50
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:04pmWhat a diplay of courage and comittment. Thanks to the moral support he abviously has received, nothing will stop him.
If you listen closely to the audio, you can here someone stating “He only took one breath at the end, on a good day, he doesn’t even take a breath” noted as reason for no head bob.
Have to agree with the thoughts about the motivating he must have received from those sorrounding him, PARENTS first, but don’t discount friends, family and coaches.
It is displayes of motivation like this that keeps me from feeling sorry for able bodied workers standing in line for hand-outs. As long as there is wanted adds, there is a job.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 4:59pmthank god and this young mans parents for teaching him that he and do what ever he wants to and no one can stop him, only in America can this happen. thanks for never giving up and may god continue to bless him and is parents. that is what you call motivating !!!!!!
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:32pmWonderful. Amazing what people can accomplish when they don‘t take ’you can‘t do it’ for an answer.
Report Post »ILoveGlenn
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 4:59pmWOW! Just WOW
Report Post »rwing
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 4:56pmGreat story! Here’s a link to a simular story of a man with no arms or legs. He’s a motivational speaker check out his very inspirational message :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciYk-UwqFKA
Report Post »ILoveGlenn
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:00pmThanks
Report Post »WoodChuck
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 4:50pmAwesome!! Nice to see a positive story.
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 4:42pmgood job, kiddo!!
that’s kick ass!
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 4:48pmIndeed, human will and human spirit are unstoppable. He must have parents who never told him he ‘could not’ and instead used the word ‘can’ a lot.
Report Post »El Paco
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:07pmI was a competitive swimmer growing up (Ended up swimming for BYU to finish off my career.). There was a kid from Palm Desert who had no legs who would swim butterfly and beat people. There was also a guy on Cal Poly who had no legs who would beat others doing butterfly. Real guts, real heart.
Report Post »sofaking obvious
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:10pmWe should give him a hand!! He’d do even better if they raced in circles.
I’m sorry, it had to be said.
Report Post »What a great kid and a great story.
Konservative PUNK
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:23pmLMAO, it had to be said!
Report Post »matthew s harrison
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:36pmThis is all about parenting. The job of a parent is to teach their kids that anything is possible, with one simple trait-WORK ETHIC. This should be playing in a loop at every welfare office, and every unemployment office in the country
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 5:55pmWow, that kid has a future!
PatriotShops.com
Report Post »SNOWLEOPARD FAN
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 6:45pmIndeed
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 8:17pmBeautiful!! A 9 year old boy with one arm shows us all that with hard work, determination, and a can do attitude,,,anything is possible and NOT out of reach. A heartfelt congratulations to the lad-well done.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 2:39amWhy MRBUTCHER, I applaud you. Somewhere deep inside I think you have a soft spot, I like that. And believe it or nor, I agree with you.
Report Post »WestOfThePecos
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:52amand no whinning from this kid.
Report Post »CCRYDER
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 10:15amNow that’s the beauty of the human spirit!
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