Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Former New York Giants first-round pick David Wilson‘s bright future ended abruptly when he retired prematurely due to spinal stenosis in 2014. While it wasn’t an injury that was bothering him as he played, it was much more threatening to his future health had his neck taken even one more serious hit. As opposed to risk his health he wisely retired just two years after being selected 32 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft.
However, his competitive spirit was still burning and he turned to his second sport, track and field, to continue competing. As Wilson tries out for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, Giants of past and present, Giants fans, and even non-sports fans should be inspired by Wilson’s motivation despite being forced to end his life-long dream all too soon.
Only one week after his retirement did Wilson set his new goals: Rio de Janeiro, the site of the 2016 Olympics. Since then he’s been training with 2012 triple jump silver medalist and long jump bronze medalist Will Claye. He has even dropped his weight to 189 pounds — around 20 pounds lighter than his playing days. Although he competed in track in high school and in college at Virginia Tech, his last meet came in 2010 during his sophomore year. That track background led him to be known for his speed and his threat to score any time he touched the ball with the Hokies and Giants. But attempting the triple jump now is a much different animal.
And that’s what’s so inspiring about Wilson. He was able to achieve a goal that very few people can: he played in the National Football League — and a freak injury took that away from him. It seems all too easy to get down on yourself, having that dream ripped away from you. Instead, Wilson was proud that he even made it that far, promising that he wouldn’t feel bad for himself. He took that blow and turned it into motivation.
For Father’s Day, he promised his dad a jump of 55 feet — nearly two feet better than his personal best (which came in five years ago). Maybe he’ll get it; maybe he won’t. Hopefully he can do it, or at least come close. The number of feet he jumps isn’t the point of the story. It’s that he never gave up. This doesn’t become a sad story if he fails to make the team: it’s still a story of success. Wilson didn’t let spinal stenosis prevent him from competing, and one poor tryout likely won’t stop him from continuing to try out for the national team.
If more people took defeat the way Wilson has, we’d probably be living in a much better world. Good luck to Wilson in future endeavors.
Matt Turner is a New York Mets Writer for www.RantSports.com. “Like” him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @MTurnerNY, or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google
