DOUBLE AMPUTEE WRESTLES AT 2015 SCHOLASTIC DUALS

Written by: Amanda Szylin  

Hasaan Hawthorne was born without shinbones, and at four months old had to have his legs amputated.

But if you ever ask him about it, you’ll hear a different version that starts with, “There was a shark attack…”

Hawthorne, who attended the 2015 AAU Wrestling Duals with his Warrior Wrestling Club team, doesn’t consider himself at a disadvantage when wrestling, but admitted it took some adjusting.

“I had to learn how to wrestle mistake free,” Hawthorne explained. “I had to adapt and learn. There are some disadvantages, but I don’t see them as that, I just go out there and wrestle and have fun.”

Another issue that Hawthorne has dealt with his whole wrestling career is having wrestlers tell him that he has an advantage over them when wrestling.

“People think that I have an advantage but I don’t have any legs,” he said. “People think that because I’m lower than they are or stronger than they are, that I have an advantage over them.”

He credits wrestling with helping him work harder and giving him a stronger work ethic. The Alabama teen said that his teammates have become his family and he gets a huge amount of support from all of them.

His advice to those going through something similar is simple. Never give up.