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Strongest Dad In the World

76,739 views
He's pushed his disabled son's wheelchair through 85 marathons. He's also towed Rick in a dinghy, swimming the 2.4 miles before pedaling with his son in a seat on the handlebars as they completed stages of triathlons. It's all part of this extraordinary father-son effort to transcend disability. When technology allowed Rick to type, he said, "Dad, when we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore." That sentence changed Dick Hoyt's life. He and his son qualified for the Boston marathon in 1992, finishing 35 minutes shy of the world record. Then somebody suggested a triathlon. So far, they've done 212, not to mention four Ironman contests. Someone suggested Dick try racing on his own. "No way," he says.
Be The Change
1
Share the story with a local group for the developmentally challenged.
2
Donate to the Hoyt Fund that aims to integrate the physically challenged into everyday life.
3
Next time you have to give a gift, consider Dick Hoyt's book -- It's Only A Mountain.
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Reflections (52)

Gavin B
wow
tim
nothuing da vidie dosent work
Sam
A true father gives life for his children.
Pankaj
This is REAL KARMA. I feel Blessed that I came across your story. God Bless The Duo.
Andrew Parkes
Dick and Rick, you are both truly inspirational. I saw a post on Facebook about your achievements and then googled Strongest Dad in the World which brought me here.

I have a very good friend who's son was born very, very prematurely and he was born deaf with cerebral palsy. Lachlan is a smart young man who's really into sailing and his father Tony is very involved in supporting him. They have competed is national and world championships, but I now have a new challenge to inspire both of them.

What a beautiful story and I'm so pleased that you both get so much from working together. I wish you all the very best for 2015 and the future.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Parkes,
Sydney, Australia
Joyce
We are not alone. As I watched this I was reminded of the quote that "a successful team beats with one heart". What a blessed team this father and son make.
Twila
As a disabled person myself.....and a participant in the creation of a sport for disabled people to be in the Olympics. We fight for equality for all of us. YOU sir, inspire me to keep moving forward and never give up on this challenge. Thank you Thank you THANK YOU!
kati
I don't know what moved me more: the togetherness of father and son or the excitement and commitment both must have been feeling as they raced. WOW! Thanks.
Marc
Do you have a computer? A milling machine? Know how to make a circuit? Have a TechShop Membership? Don't stop imagining what is possible just because the video is over. I get why Dick would never run alone. That's not his point. His son could someday run it by himself. That's my point. Way to go Dick you're an inspiration to dads everywhere.
adolfo
answer to Monica:" life is difficult " said the Buddha, " but once we ACCEPT that life is difficult, life IS NO LONGER DIFFICULT"( added Dr.Scott Peck,a famous psycologist,paraphrasing the Buddha )
I am 76 - have lived my life"accepting"life's difficulties, and inspite of everything life presented me with,I consider myself the luckiest man on earth.
A bit of advice: carv some time to go back to school...yes you heard me right: the cost of ignorance is infinitely higher than the cost of education( life at times - is difficult - just BECAUSE we dont "understand" life's difficulty - peace love and blessings
Jan
Rick was in our youth group in church in Westfield, MA, that I was serving. He was in junior high, and his Mom ( Judy) and Dad ( Dick) made certain that Rick was able to participate in all the youth activities, from roller skating, to sledding and tubing down snowy slopes, to spelunking to mini golf. He went on all our road trips and retreats. It was extraordinary and inspiring then evidence of a love so amazing
that it will not accept limitations. I continue to be impressed...and inspired by Dick's extraordinary physical strength and mental discipline, as well as his devotion to Rick and his family. Rick's intelligence and passion for sports and the outdoors was evident from his childhood, and Dick and Judy...and his brother Rob, enabled his freedom from the confines of his physical disability to experience his wildest
dreams. There is no greater human love than this.
adolfo
" Each one of us has no limits; we are all inevitable; and each one on his own right on this earth" Walt Whitman
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