Being Born Without Legs Hasn't Stopped This 'AGT' Hopeful
Zion Clark
Zion Clark got four yeses from the judges when he auditioned for Season 18 of America’s Got Talent. His performance included gymnastics and power lifting skills that demonstrated his strength and agility. Tonight, he’s back for the qualifying rounds for the finale, and he’s hoping to be one of only two that America votes through.
What made it most impressive is the 25-year-old Canton, Ohio-based competitor was born without legs due to a condition known as caudal regression syndrome.
“I was just thrown away,” Zion said in his audition package of being put into the foster care system at birth. “I was less than human is what I was treated like.”
And he has the scars to prove it. Zion lived in 13 or 14 different homes before he turned 17. Just as he was about to age out of the system, he was finally adopted and “everything fell into place.”
His new mom was tough on him, though, even as she helped him turn his life around. She wouldn’t let him quit wrestling in school, even though he lost 200 matches before he finally started winning.
And today, Zion has several claims to fame. In addition to being named the fastest man on two hands by Guinness Book of World Records, he won his first MMA fight, he competes in wheelchair racing and he hopes to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024.
Before he took the stage, Parade had the opportunity to speak to the inspirational athlete about what brought him to AGT, his belief in living life 100 percent with no excuses, how he would spend the $ 1 million prize to help other foster children and more.
What brought you to America’s Got Talent?
Honestly, just the opportunity. I’ve never actually watched the show before, but they do a lot of good things. They have a really big platform, which I can definitely use to inspire people and lift up everybody else around me while at the same time enjoying myself.
The judges always asked for more and bigger for the live shows. Do you have a bigger act ready to go?
Oh, yeah, I absolutely have a way bigger act ready to go. There will be a lot of excitement. It’ll be something that the crowd can get on the edge of their seats for, and something I think the judges will find mind blowing.
Related: Magician Anna DeGuzman Hopes to 'Inspire' Young Women on the AGT Stage
You have “No Excuses” tattooed on your back. Talk about how that is how you’ve chosen to live your life.
You know, it’s just the fact of waking up every day, if you go do something, do it 100 percent. If I’m going to go out there, I’m not going to give 50, I’m going to give 100 percent every time.
Your mother couldn’t make the audition. Was she in the audience tonight?
No, sadly. She takes care of foster kids, and they can’t leave the state without approval.
Photo by: Trae Patton
Tell us a little about your background.
I’ll touch on it—I don’t like to talk about it all the time. I went through the foster care system for 17 years of my life, so I experienced a lot of different things, a lot of struggles, a lot of abuse and stuff like that. It makes for a harder life. I’m 25 now. Since I was 18, I came around and I became a pro athlete. I’ve done a lot of things. I’ve risen to the occasion multiple times for different challenges, and I’ve succeeded a lot.
With everything that you went through, you have such a positive attitude.
Not always, I’m just like any other human. I’m no different than you, I’m no better than the person next to me. It’s all about your belief system and what you believe that you can accomplish and what you’re going to do to accomplish it.
So, tell me, if you won AGT, how would you spend the $1 million?
I’d put part of it into different organizations to help the foster care system, or different charities of my choosing. And then the rest, I’d keep to myself, use for investing and stuff like that. But the main goal is changing the system and helping the kids.
Related: Make Your Vote Count! How to Vote Online or By App for 'America’s Got Talent'
Other than AGT, what are you working on now?
I’m working on different projects. I’m constantly traveling around the world giving speeches. I’m also still an athlete. Once I’m ready, I’m going to get back in the game, get ready for another fight and take it from there. I don’t like to plan too many things ahead for myself. I’d rather just live in the now and see what doors present themselves at each turn.
Photo by: Trae Patton
You also wrote an essay, Zion Unmatched, that’s been published. How did that come around?
It was just a little coffee table read; I partnered with Candlewick Press. It was just one of those things where it’s a prelude to my actual book, Work with What You Got. But the coffee table read, it’s just something that you can sit down and show your kids, or sit down and look at the different picture exposes and things that I’ve said and other people have said about me and feel inspired about.
Right, and there’s also a documentary about your life that actually won Emmys?
Yeah, I have a two-time sports Emmy award-winning documentary, Zion. It’s actually been on Netflix for years now.
Related: Are the Judges Being Meaner Than Usual This Season on 'America’s Got Talent'?
You’re so inspirational. Do you go out and speak at conventions or at corporate events?
I do. I speak anywhere that I’m welcome. It’s not like my number one thing that I do. I got my claim to who I am, I’m an athlete, so I’m continuing that. I’m an athlete first, and after that, yeah, I’ll definitely keep speaking, keep inspiring people. But I initially started inspiring people by what I’m doing,
What’s important to your workout when you’re getting ready for all these things?
Just conditioning. I have the strength to go on with a lot of the stuff I do, and now it’s about how long I can keep up that strength over an extended period of time.
America’s Got Talent airs Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Next, 'America’s Got Talent' Reveals the 55 Acts Set to Perform on Season 18’s Live Shows
