This is Isaiah Bird. He has no legs. That doesn’t keep him from competing in wrestling, one of the most demanding physical sports imaginable, and at the age of 6, he’s already refusing to be kept behind by his lack of lower appendages.
As detailed in this terrific feature from Newsday, Bird was born without legs, and his life has hardly gotten easier from there. He lives in a shelter in Freeport, Long Island, with his mother and 2-year-old brother. He was inspired to start wrestling when he was introduced to the Long Beach Gladiators youth wrestling program. Though he’s still just in first grade, Bird is already a true standout on the wrestling mat, finishing third in his age group at the New York Kid Wrestling Championships and sixth in a national tournament, the War at the Shore, in New Jersey.
While Bird’s success in wrestling in inspiring, its his optimism that truly stands out and has inspired nearly all who find themselves around the youngster. Miguel Rodriguez spends nearly every day with Bird, doubling as his 1-on-1 teaching assistant and wrestling coach with the Gladiators. For Rodriguez, Bird’s passion and attitude already mark him out as a once-in-a-generation kid.
“He has no clue what’s going on in is his life,” Rodriguez told Newsday. “He’s such a happy kid that he doesn’t know he doesn’t have a bed, doesn’t have a TV. … [Bird is] The happiest, most positive kid I’ve ever met in my life. In his eyes, he’s no different than any other kid.
“Wrestling is the only thing this kid talks about. In wrestling, he can actually feel normal because he’s the man.”
Make no mistake: Bird isn’t normal. He’s extraordinary already.
“I have no legs, but I don’t need legs,” the young Bird told News12 Long Island. “I’m a wrestler. I’m a gladiator. I’m stronger than anybody.”