Lance Benson scrawled "No legs, no problem" across the front scrap of his wrestling helmet when he was a high school senior at East Wake High in 1991.
He still uses the same slogan, because, he said, it sums up his life very well.
"I have no legs, but that's not a problem," Benson said this week.
As his father Jerry Benson said in 1991, ""A closed mind is the biggest handicap anyone can have. Lance has overcome his disbelief."
Benson was born without legs, but became an outstanding high school wrestler, building a winning record at the Wendell school and claiming his weight classification title one year in the State Games of North Carolina.
Now a corporate real estate advisor in Miami, Benson still is doing amazing things. Propelling himself on a modified skateboard, he has completed more than 20 marathons with a career best time of 3 hours, 12 minutes.
He was involved in waters sports before attempting 5-kilometer road races. He signed up for a half marathon and discovered how much he enjoyed the competition. "Plus it was a great workout," he said.
Now he competes in marathons throughout the country. He wears heavy gloves and pushes himself along. He wrestled at 103 pounds years ago, but he is a muscle-filled 160 pounds today.
"I was really heavy into the weights for a while," he said. "But I do a lot more cross training now and I do yoga once a week to keep the flexibility."
Benson is an N.C. State graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering and received his Masters of Business Administration from Florida International. He is married with a 10 1/2 year old child and his wife is due again this month.
Years ago, Benson said, ""I don't wrestle to inspire people. I do it because I want to. It is my life and I want to do things"
He certainly has.
