Kyle Maynard

Biography

Kyle Maynard has appeared as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, ABC`s 20/20, Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show and as a cover story in USA Today. He has been featured on HBO Real Sports, Spike TV, as well as countless local and regional TV shows and in print. He continues to inspire as the author of his book, No Excuses (2005), a New York Times bestseller.

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 the 2004 ESPY Award Winner (Best Athlete with a Disability), 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.

Publications

No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life

Traffic jams, bills, bad weather, and work are things we all complain about. But Kyle Maynard doesn`t complain. Born without arms or legs below his elbows and knees, he excels: as a champion athlete, inspirational speaker, college student (who can use a cell phone, type fifty words a minute, and maintain an A average), and male model. No Excuses is his inspirational autobiography that shows how a positive can-do attitude gives someone we might see as disadvantaged the advantage over life.

Born with a rare disorder called "congenital amputation," Maynard`s story is one of a devoted extended family, strong religious faith, and a personal determination that made him a football lineman, a state champion wrestler, and an inspirational figure who was featured in the highest rated "Larry King Live" show ever. No Excuses is Kyle Maynard`s own story, but also the story of how he has changed the lives and attitudes of other people: even making Howard Stern rethink his support of abortion to become pro-life. No Excuses proves that in the end it is not disabilities that separate people but abilities of the heart.

Titles

No Excuses!
Kyle Maynard`s No Excuses keynote is teaching audiences around the world that there are no worthy excuses. No matter how challenging your difficulties may seem, everyone has the ability to overcome; Kyle will show you how.

Maynard was born 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. Crowds are spellbound as Kyle chronicles his life experiences and relates his emotions to each individual group. Maynard`s accomplishments as an athlete speak for themselves, but he believes it`s a part of his mission to show others they`re capable of achieving greatness in their lives as well.

As a wrestler, Kyle lost every single match his first year and most his second, but he wouldn`t quit. Maynard managed to become one of the top wrestlers in the nation, and even broke multiple world weightlifting records - bench pressing as much as 420 lbs!

Mixing humor and hard truths, Kyle understands what it takes to teach any audience to persevere, even when you`re hit with setbacks. We all have things in life we wish we`d do something about, instead of continuing to hesitate. Hearing Maynard may be what finally makes you act!