Wrestler, MMA Fighter and Author Zion Clark Will Speak at This Year’s PINC Conference

Ahead of his appearance in Sarasota, Clark spoke about his rise to fame, his mother’s influence, finding peace of mind, and more.

Zion Clark, the fastest man on two hands, was born without legs due to a rare disorder called Caudal regression syndrome. Because his mother was imprisoned and drug-addicted, he entered the foster care system. At times, he said, he was starved, beaten, abused and neglected, and he shuffled between seven or eight foster homes. 

“I grew up real rough,” Clark, 26, says. “So the message I give is that I’m not somebody who’s just going to throw in the towel.”

Two years ago, Clark—who’s also a wrestler, MMA fighter,  Guinness World Record holder, author and speaker—spoke in Sarasota at All Star Children’s Foundation, where he advocated for foster care in southwest Florida. When Clark’s mother couldn’t care for him, he entered foster care in Ohio before he was adopted at 17 by Kimberlli Clark Hawkins, who he calls his biggest supporter. 

Clark, the subject of the Emmy Award-winning Netflix documentary Zion, will speak at this year’s PINC conference, which returns to the Sarasota Opera House on Thursday, Dec. 7.  He stands at about 3 feet tall and weighs 110 pounds, and he hopes to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024.