Medical Challenges and Mental Strength

At age 8, Syam Kumar S.S. made a life-altering decision to amputate his right leg, freeing himself from frequent hospitalizations and chronic pain. Armed with a prosthetic limb and sheer determination, he later taught himself to cycle, going on to complete arduous rides including a 230 km in 12 hours effort, and, most notably, a 1,000 km solo expedition across Kerala during kidney failure, carrying essential medical supplies and only collapsing near Kannur after six days.

Following a life-saving kidney transplant in 2022 donated by his mother, Syam just three months post-surgery—turned his gaze to the sky. Through months of rigorous wind tunnel training in Hyderabad and skydives under instructor Andy Pine in Thailand, he conquered his fears. In November 2023, at 23, he became the youngest person ever to perform a solo skydive from 13,000 ft with a prosthetic leg, achieving world-record status despite a near-parachute malfunction.

After returning to India, Syam earned his paragliding pilot license at Bir Billing, pursued drone videography, and now aspires to higher aerial feats: skydiving from 42,000 ft and wingsuit flying while raising awareness that differently abled individuals are athletes, not objects of pity.