Travels from Georgia, USA
Kyle Maynard's speaking fee falls within range: $25,000 to $30,000
Two-time ESPN Espy winner, Kyle Maynard did not let a birth defect deter him from becoming a gifted athlete. The Mixed Martial Arts competitor, who was born without arms or legs, has inspired millions worldwide to persevere and achieve greatness.
By age 10, Kyle was tackling his classmates on the football field. Though his first season of competitive wrestling resulted in 35 losses, his senior year racked up 36 victories. During high school, he also earned the GNC title World’s Strongest Teen after bench-pressing 23 repetitions of 240 lbs. Since 2009, he’s been competing in Mixed Martial Arts and is the founder and owner of No Excuses Crossfit gym.
Kyle’s New York Times best-selling autobiography No Excuses inspired millions of readers. His determination and message of purpose and possibility has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, 20/20, and Good Morning America, among other popular talk shows and news programs. His recent commercial spot in Nike’s “unlimited series” has received 1.5 million views within a single month of being published.
Inspired by his father’s military background, Kyle is a tireless advocate for veterans, particularly wounded soldiers who are adapting to dramatic physical and mental changes after being injured in the line of duty. In 2012, he became the first quadruple amputee to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro, in a climb that aimed to elevate awareness of wounded military veterans. The expedition also raised $25,000 worth in donations for the Mwereni Integrated School for the Blind in Moshi, Tanzania.
The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live
20/20, Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show
USA Today
HBO Real Sports
No Excuses
New York Times
Maynard was born March 24, 1986 with a condition known as congenital amputation that has left him with arms that end at the elbows and legs that end near his knees. His story begins as an 11-year-old that wanted to wrestle and a coach that gave him an opportunity to try. After losing every single match his first year and most his second, Maynard, with his iron will and a coach with a heart of gold became a very successful varsity wrestler on one of the best teams in the Southeast. In spite of his limitations, Maynard found a way to win 36 varsity matches his senior year, while defeating several state place finishers and state champions during his final season.
But Maynard′s accomplishments extend far beyond the wrestling mat. With basically two elbows he can type up to fifty words per minute, eat and write without any adaptations, and drive a vehicle that has little modification. Maynard began weight training as a youngster and with leather straps and chains attached to his arms he lifted over 400 lbs. In November 2003, he attained the unofficial title of the World′s Strongest Teen at the GNC Show-of-Strength by butterfly pressing 23 repetitions of 240 lbs. In 2005, he set the World Record in the modified bench press at the Arnold Fitness Classic with the bench of 360 lbs. In February of 2009 he successfully benched 420 lbs.
Maynard is a two-time ESPY Award Winner for Best Male Athlete with a Disability (2004 and 2012), and was included in ESPN The Magazine, ESPN 100—the single list that ranks the top 100 sports personalities, moments, trends, games and stories that mattered in 2004. He is the recipient of the 2004 Presidents Award for the Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. One year later, Maynard was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame with the Medal of Courage. In 2007, he was elected by the U.S. Jaycees as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Young Americans. In 2008, Maynard received the Highest Recognition Award of the Secretary of Health and Human Services because of his efforts as a life role model, motivational speaker and humanitarian.
Maynard is a CrossFit Level 1 Certified Instructor and has always had a passion for helping people reach their fitness goals. In 2008, Maynard saw one of his most fervent dreams become a reality when he built his first fitness center, No Excuses CrossFit, where he endeavors to motivate people to better their lives on a daily basis.
Maynard′s spent the last seven years giving motivational speeches all over the world. And in 2005, he also started training in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. His focus in the sport is with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which is the art of pressuring an opponent to tap-out and submit. On April 25th of 2009, Maynard became the first quadruple amputee to step into the cage and compete as an amateur no-holds-barred fighter.
A Fighting Chance, the documentary chronicling his life and the pursuit of his first Mixed Martial Arts fight was released on ESPN in November of 2010.
Maynard’s most recent goal, which earned him his second ESPY award, was to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. On January 15, 2012 Maynard and a team of several wounded veterans reached the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro becoming the first quadruple amputee to get to the top without assistance.
Kyle Maynard asks each one of us to pursue our dreams rather than dismissing them as impossibilities. He shares how at age 10 his first tackle in a football game helped him cast away his doubts and fears that he would never be able to have a normal or independent life.
Kyle’s parents made the choice to treat Kyle like a regular kid, a decision that he calls “the most important decision” of his life. It influenced his desire to be an athlete and his willingness to adapt his body, fail, and try again often hundreds of times in order to accomplish the simple things that came so easily for other boys his age – such as tackling opponents in a football match. Kyle realized that by looking downward and hitting other players in the knees with his helmet, he could knock them down.
From learning to type 50 WPM on a smart phone with the stumps of his arms to figuring out how to tackle his able-bodied counterparts on the football field, Kyle’s tales of perseverance and accomplishment will amaze, move, and inspire you.
Gracious and authentic, Kyle builds a powerful connection with audiences as he openly discusses the doubts and fears that plagued him in early childhood, the moments that he wanted to quit, and the support system and mentality that helped him keep going. Kyle’s incredible story will drive you to takes risks, continue trying, and get more out of life.
Kyle Maynard suffers from a congenital defect that robbed him of arms from below the elbows and his legs from below the knees. But this hasn’t stopped him from becoming a winning high school wrestler, weightlifter, gifted student – and example to everyone who meets him. In this moving and eloquent presentation full of examples from his life, Maynard outlines how his “No Excuses” philosophy helps him meet the numerous challenges that confront him daily, showing audiences how they too can overcome the great challenges in their own lives – and succeed.
“Kyle Maynard was without a doubt the highlight of the entire event!! He is an amazing individual!” PepsiCo
“Simply put, Kyle was amazing! He was so inspirational, his storytelling was spot-on and he managed to connect with everyone of all ages equally. Our partners couldn’t have been happier with the outcome!” Anup Swamy, VP Consumer Marketing at Sports Illustrated
“Kyle’s message of perseverance and strength was impactful. Everyone in the room — from age 6 to age 50 — left with tremendous take-home value. As the event planner, i appreciated the efforts of kyle and his team to understand our group. Kyle was gracious and approachable and i am sure he connected with everyone in attendance.” Ryan Wilkerson, Chapter Chair of Kansas City Young Presidents Organization
“For myself and close to 1000 in attendance, kyle’s message was not only inspiring but pointed towards ‘anything is possible’ with clarity and purpose. Now [ the people in the audience ] have been introduced to kyle and his message they will carry it with [ them ] for a lifetime.” Greg Beidler, Senior VP Stores & Operations with The Finish Line
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No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life
He was born a congenital amputee, his arms ending at his elbows and his legs at his knees. But that didn’t stop Kyle Maynard from becoming a champion, on the wrestling mat and in his life.
No Excuses is the inspiring story of Kyle’s battle against the odds. You’ll learn about the family who supported him, the coach who trained him, and the faith that strengthened him to face the toughest fights.
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