Matt Pulford

As an aspiring Paralympian and full-time college student, Berry College Freshmen Ryan Boyle has a lot on his plate, not to manage overcoming daily struggles of functioning in a fast paced world.

At the age of nine Boyle received traumatic brain damage after being hit by a speeding pickup truck. The accident, said Boyle, resulted in the need of emergency brain surgery since fragments of his skull were penetrating his cerebellum, which had to be removed. After two months in a coma, he was not given any chance of survival.

However, the light was not turned off; Boyle awoke from his coma, but the challenges he faced were far from over. He had to relearn how “to breathe, swallow, talk, eat, stand, sit, walk-everything- all over again,” he said.

According to him, the first neurologist who he did rehab with said that he was not optimistic that Boyle would not even have enough strength in his hands to type. Later, however, Ryan typed and authored a biography entitled, When the Lights Go Out.

Published in October 2012 and written by Boyle, he shares his story and his struggles after the accident. He describes his therapies and the various emotional and psychological challenges that he has had to cope with. In a synopsis on his book he writes:

“I have discovered the critical roles that faith in God, love of family, the healing power of friends, and the inherent goodness of people all played in my ability to triumph over overwhelming odds. I have also learned that a horrific accident has given me an amazing gift.”

Over a thousand copies of his book have already been sold.

His motivation for writing – and his other endeavors – is to show how wrong his first neurologist was.

“I am constantly proving him wrong every day. So I like to live by that, and it motivates to do better and make him more wrong,” Boyle said.

This motivation propelled Boyle to the top in his field of para-cycling, giving him the chance to become a Paralympian for Team USA in 2016. This same enthusiasm also caused him to enroll fulltime as a student at Berry College. His GPA is respectable, and he has joined several clubs and even speaks competitively for the Berry College Forensics Union. He is ranked second in the Georgia in public speaking.

Where does he find the time to juggle all of this?

“Frankly, I don’t know. It’s really tough,” Boyle admitted.

This, he says, is the most difficult part of college and his training: managing his time.

“The hardest part of college would be probably time management. Although it’s getting better, it is quite an adjustment,” Boyle said.

For an aspiring Paralympian, hours of training are mandatory – on top of the rigors of a Berry education.

“I train six days a week, a minimum of two hours. For instance just last week I was on the bike for just about three hours, so it varies a lot. Of course before a big race I’m really training all I can,” Boyle said.

Apart from riding his bike, a strict diet is included in his training. So unlike other students, Boyle has to make careful use of his unlimited meal plan at the dining hall.

“I need to watch what I eat. In D-Hall the desserts look tempting and I could eat as much I want, but I just have to be extremely disciplined,” Boyle said.

Like Greek athletes of old who aspired for the same medals that Boyle does, sacrifice is necessary. But this sacrifice will enable Boyle to achieve his ultimate goal.

In 2016, Rio de Jenero will host the Olympic and Paralympic games. Winning gold in para-cycling, he says, is his ultimate goal.

“I just want to go, and have that under my belt. I think that that’s quite a dinner table topic to bring up,” Boyle said.

While he jokes casually about winning, his lifestyle reflects the hard work and seriousness that he puts into his dream. Already, Boyle’s hard work is paying off. Most recently he beat the reigning American champion in a time trial in Greensboro, South Carolina, winning a gold medal in this race.

Hardly only has a diner table topic, Ryan Boyle’s ongoing inspiring story has yet to end.

After hopefully participating in the Paralympics, Boyle plans to use his degree in communication by being a professional motivational speaker.

“So far I’ve done it a few times. I’ve received great response,” Boyle said.