Clay Marzo has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, and he is a great surfer. For example, he's the youngest surfer to ever score a perfect 10 in competition. But as the video explains, he's "not a great surfer in spite of his medical condition, but rather, because of it." I love the way the other surfers describe him as "freaky."
I also think it's great that his mom gave up on having him tested for disorders and decided that "Clay is Clay." Unfortunately, other people weren't as accepting. When he wouldn't conform, people tried to make him fit in. One sponsor even dropped him because of his unusual behavior.
Notice how people use negative terms to describe someone who is different. Clay has been called "rude, lazy, dumb and shy." He might be uncomfortable interacting with people, but "in the water, there are no limits." He's found the right fit.










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