PRISONER NO MORE: The True Story of Tae Jin Park
This episode shares the inspiring true story of Tae Jin Park, who overcame the severe challenges of cerebral palsy through the unique coaching philosophy of Jersey, a former Olympic weightlifting coach. It details Tae Jin's physical and cognitive transformation, his journey to independence, and his acceptance into college. The episode also explores Jersey's personal history, his methods for coaching individuals with disabilities, and the broader mission of the One Step Closer Foundation.
- Jersey, a former Olympic weightlifting coach, treated individuals with cerebral palsy like Tae Jin Park as athletes with untapped potential, not as "sick" or "handicapped." Read →
- By 18, Jersey (a future Olympic weightlifting coach) was battling severe alcoholism, blacking out daily, and experiencing suicidal thoughts, believing he was "done almost." Read →
- Coach Jersey started Tae Jin Park with a 3 lb wooden bar, not a modified machine, demanding pure form and incremental gains even when conventional wisdom said lifting was impossible due to severe cerebral palsy. Read →