Ryan Boyle (born November 13, 1993) is an American tricyclist. Boyle won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in his time trial.
Early life and education
editBoyle was born on November 13, 1993, to parents Matthew and Nancy Boyle in New Haven, Connecticut alongside his brother Matthew.[1] Growing up, his family went on mountain biking trips to New Hampshire and he began competitive mountain biking and BMX riding circuits.[2] At the age of 10, he suffered a brain injury at the back of his skull as the result of being crushed by the impact of a truck. He was in a coma for two months before waking up and displaying the ability to move one finger on his right hand.[3] Once he could ask his parents about the accident, he laughed hysterically because he did not believe it had happened.[2] As part of his rehabilitation, Boyle joined the Beyond Therapy Program at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.[4] Upon being transferred to Blythedale Children's Hospital in December 2005, Boyle began intensive therapy that covered speech, feeding, standing, biking, and occupational therapy.[2]
Following his recovery, where he had to relearn how to breathe, talk, eat and walk, Boyle joined a swim team. He swam on his school team until someone gifted him a high-end road tricycle years later.[5] However, upon returning to school, Boyle says he felt alienated by his peers due to his wheelchair.[6] During his freshman year, he wrote When the Lights go Out: A Boy Given a Second Chance.[7] He attended St. Joseph High School before his family moved to Georgia midway through his junior year.[8] Boyle eventually graduated from Blessed Trinity High School in 2011 and enrolled at Berry College.[9] He eventually transferred to Furman University in order to be closer to his coaches.[2]
Career
editBoyle was named to the 2016 United States Paralympic Team and he competed in the T1-2 men’s time trial. In his debut, Boyle finished with a time of 26:49.67 earning a silver medal.[10] Following this, Boyle won the 2018 Chelsea Cohen Courage Award.[11] He was again named to the United States Paralympic Team prior to the delayed 2020 Summer Paralympics.[12]
Selected publications
edit- When the Lights go Out: A Boy Given a Second Chance (2012)
References
edit- ^ "RYAN BOYLE". Team USA. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Callum-Penso, Lillia (August 27, 2014). "Para-cyclist focused on the road ahead". Greenville News. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Teen beating the odds after brain injury". CNN. April 18, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ Wagner, Ron (August 4, 2014). "Unstoppable". Furman University. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ Clayton, Joshua (July 23, 2020). "CYCLIST RYAN BOYLE SETS HIS SIGHTS ON TOKYO FOR NEXT SHOT AT PARALYMPIC GOLD". Team USA. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ Kreel, Marva (February 6, 2021). "THE INSPIRATIONAL RYAN BOYLE - FROM A COMA TO WORLD CHAMPION PARACYCLIST, A STORY OF OVERCOMING ALL THE ODDS". Euro Sport. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ Mayko, Michael P. (January 5, 2013). "Traumatic brain injury survivor, 19, tells story". Connecticut Post. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ Bittar, Bill (January 7, 2013). "'I'm Doing Everything They Said I Would Never Do'". Patch. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ Nelson, Andrew (May 10, 2012). "Step By Step, BT Senior Overcomes Tragedy". The Georgia Bulletin. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ Kiger, Nick (September 14, 2016). "TEAM USA WINS 9 PARALYMPIC MEDALS ON FIRST DAY OF ROAD CYCLING". Team USA. Archived from the original on January 15, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ "Boyle named Cohen award recipient". New Haven Register. October 2, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ "Team USA names 2020 national cycling squad". Paralympics. January 17, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2021.