Monday, September 28, 2009

Surfing, Asperger’s a powerful mix


From ESPN’s E: 60
Surfing phenom Clay Marzo may be one of the most gifted athletes in his sport. Recently diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, the 20-year-old Marzo has earned national surfing titles and international admiration for his aerial skills, speed and daring. But he struggles with basic social interactions, and has difficulty with the demands that come with being an elite pro athlete.

Some say the Asperger’s syndrome allows Marzo to focus and concentrate in ways his competitors can’t.

“When he’s out of the water, he’s in that state of confusion, you know, he’s unsure of a lot of what’s going on around him,” says his dad. “If he can’t get in the water, he’s crawling out of his skin.”

Video here.

Marzo is the subject of the recent documentary “Just Add Water.”

No comments:

Post a Comment