Two men enter a mixed martial artsKnown as MMA, a combat sport based on grappling, striking and fighting on the ground. ring. One of the fighters has a full body, but the other one has no legs. Despite this fact, the smaller fighter ends up winning.

That man was called Zion Clark. He was born in 1997 with Caudal Regression Syndrome, meaning that he has no legs or lower body. He was also abandoned at birth and placed in foster careWhen a child is temporarily looked after by someone who is not their parent or guardian. .

Growing up, Clark was bullied, beaten, starved and regularly moved between homes. But he found an outletA means of expressing your talents or feelings. in wrestling, even though he failed to win a fight for many years.

Aged 16, Clark was adoptedWhen someone takes care of another person's child as their own child. by his foster mother Kimberly. It turned his life around. Since then he has become a successful wrestler and MMAMixed martial arts. fighter. Now he holds three Guinness World Records, including the fastest man on two hands. He has even appeared in a Netflix documentaryA film with a factual narrative. One of the most famous documentaries of modern times is An Inconvenient Truth, about climate change..

In this year's Paralympic GamesAn international multi-sports competition for athletes with disabilities that takes place every four years after the Olympic games. , Clark is competing for the USA in the wheelchair racing team.

Viewers will see the words "no excuses" tattooed across his back. He refuses to use his disability as an excuse for not achieving his goals. Clark himself argues: "If you fall down, stand up again... You don't need legs to leave a footprint on the earth.^"

But others say we need a more compassionateShowing understanding and sympathy to people who are suffering. outlook on life. Those who always say "no excuses" may end up blaming themselves for things that are not their fault.

Does his life have a universal message?

Yes! Zion Clark shows that with the right mindset, everyone has the chance to achieve their goals. We can all do more than we think is possible.

No! Clark is inspiring, but most will struggle to relate to his life. Some people have disadvantages they are never able to overcome, through no fault of their own.