Can you imagine competitively participating in over 1,130 endurance events, including marathons and Ironman triathlons? This is a feat not many individuals accomplish. Team Hoyt, though, is another story.
In 1977, Rick asked his father if they could run a race together to benefit a lacrosse player at his school who had become paralyzed. He wanted to prove that life was worth living no matter your disability. Why? Because Rick also had a disability. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth after his umbilical cord became twisted around his neck, significantly reducing oxygen flow. As a result, his brain could not properly control his muscles, leaving him confined to a wheelchair and unable to verbally communicate.
His father, Dick, was not a runner and was 36 years old, but he pushed Rick in the race nonetheless. After the race, Rick said, “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.” This inspired Rick to begin training every day with a bag of cement in the wheelchair while Rick was at school. Dick improved his fitness so much that even while pushing Rick, he was able to obtain a personal record of a 5 km run in 17 minutes!
Whether Rick is being pushed in a wheelchair during a run, riding on the front of a specially designed tandem bike, or laying in a boat — all of the physical momentum is from his father. But although the father may be physically pushing them both, he is the first to admit that his son is pushing him in spirit. “Rick is my motivator. He inspires me. To me, he is the one out there competing and I’m just loaning him my arms and my legs so that he can compete. There’s just something that gets into me when we’re out there competing and I’m able to just go faster.”
Potential exists in every person, no matter the race, gender, physical or mental capabilities. Realizing and tapping into this potential is the greatest advancement we can do together.