Shooting Straight
Thanks to autism, 15-year-old Kyle Cramer of Coburg, Oregon, is aiming to compete in the Olympics in archery, KMTR reports:
Kyle has captured state and national championships, setting records along the way. Autism no longer holds him back, but helps him to achieve.
Wayne Endicott, owner of the Bow Rack Pro Shop says, “Kyle’s handicap becomes his ability in his archery, because Kyle can be so focused. When you give him instructions he cannot not do it.”
Kyles dad agrees, “The autism almost helps him, because he can focus and concentrate so well. He’s unstoppable.”
And so a “weakness” becomes the basis for ability.
Tags: archery, asd, asperger, athletes, autism, autism blog, Family, olympics, oregon, pdd-nos, SportsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Sports
8 opinions for Shooting Straight
Brett
May 12, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Thanks for passing on this good news story. Far too few of them.
For another story about turning disability into ability, check out The one-arm boy.
Regan
May 12, 2008 at 3:53 pm
An autistic kid in the Olympics, not the special olympics (which rocks, BTW), but the big kahuna.
That would be something to see.
Go Kyle.
Cliff
May 12, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Good story, and not terribly constructed overall fr once!
Cliff
laurentius-rex
May 12, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I gave up archery because of arthritis.
Also I did not like certain aspects of coaching, you see I have zen approach for when I could shoot straight (with the least thought or excercise) I could, but not through trying or technique, but because I did.
Olympics are bull, they always were (you know your Greek history)
The interesting thing is that so called primitive tribes who rely on archery for survival would be coached out of there “bad habits”
It is a wonder I never shot the coach I certainly felt like it.
Justthisguy
May 12, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Larry, you knew exactly where to shoot, to get ‘im in the spleen, right?
Snork. Just (mostly) kiddin’.
Nah, buy the boy a rifle, then send him up to Idaho for Boomershoot next year.
Joe Huffman, who runs that, I do not think would mind auties, seeing that he thinks he has a bit of the “A” his self.
Fear the Autistic Gun Nerds!
Kristina Chew, PhD
May 12, 2008 at 11:58 pm
As you may have guessed, I am quite the pacifist and highly unlikely to be found with any armaments (except the proverbial pen/laptop).
BRYAN
Jul 30, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I just read some of the responses to your article, enjoyed some, would like to punch the others in their mouths. I came across this article because I was looking up information on autism. You see I have two boys and neither one of them are autistic, however, I have been blessed by a friend of mine, who asked me to help a family that belongs to the same church as my friend. Long story short, I have been working with this young man since February of 2008, learning the basic concepts of archery, he is doing very well and has inspired me to continue this task longer. By the way the young man who I am teaching….. His name is also Kyle….
Justthisguy
Jul 31, 2008 at 12:51 am
Bows are kewl. They are also silent. The Welsh longbow of the 13th century had a draw weight of about 120 lbs, and the arrows were longer then, drawn to behind the ear. They went right through knightly armor then and they’ll go right through cop kevlar armor now.
Kristina, I hate to say this, but sometimes I think those Mongol folks pacified you Han guys a bit too much.
Not that that matters much these days, as the Peoples’ Republic of China is acting more and more like an irresistible force of nature.
Some of us, both Han and non-Han, do disagree with that program
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