Ryan Boyle (cyclist) – Wikipedia

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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[edit]

Boyle 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]

Boyle 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]

  1. ^ “RYAN BOYLE”. Team USA. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Callum-Penso, Lillia (August 27, 2014). “Para-cyclist focused on the road ahead”. Greenville News. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  3. ^ “Teen beating the odds after brain injury”. CNN. April 18, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  4. ^ Wagner, Ron (August 4, 2014). “Unstoppable”. Furman University. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  5. ^ Clayton, Joshua (July 23, 2020). “CYCLIST RYAN BOYLE SETS HIS SIGHTS ON TOKYO FOR NEXT SHOT AT PARALYMPIC GOLD”. Team USA. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Mayko, Michael P. (January 5, 2013). “Traumatic brain injury survivor, 19, tells story”. Connecticut Post. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Bittar, Bill (January 7, 2013). “‘I’m Doing Everything They Said I Would Never Do’“. Patch. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  9. ^ Nelson, Andrew (May 10, 2012). “Step By Step, BT Senior Overcomes Tragedy”. The Georgia Bulletin. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  10. ^ Kiger, Nick (September 14, 2016). “TEAM USA WINS 9 PARALYMPIC MEDALS ON FIRST DAY OF ROAD CYCLING”. Team USA. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  11. ^ “Boyle named Cohen award recipient”. New Haven Register. October 2, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  12. ^ “Team USA names 2020 national cycling squad”. Paralympics. January 17, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2021.