Owensboro native Kaidyn Stockdale earned three gold medals at the World Abilitysport Games in Thailand on December 1-9. Prior to representing the U.S. at the World Abilitysport Games, Stockdale recently won a string of state championships for Apollo High School, and he has his sights set on making the US Paralympic team in the future.
Stockdale earned gold medals in the mens’ U20 shot put with a best record of 9.53m, in discus with a best record of 35.38m and in javelin with a best record of 26.46m.
The World Abilitysport Games were held from December 1-9, and is a yearly competition and is a part of the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation and the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association. Going from competing against other high schools to competing against other countries was an interesting experience for Stockdale.
“Here in Owensboro, a lot of people know Apollo High School, but if you go to eastern or northern Kentucky, not a lot of people know what Apollo High School is,” he said. “So, unless you’re at the state meet you just throw against the guys in your area. It’s a really big jump from throwing against schools in your county to throwing against other countries. It definitely is a surreal moment, and I haven’t even stepped on a college track yet.”
Lots of work had been put in by Stockdale in the six months since he was selected for the team. Along with a new workout regime to get him ready for his first college season with Midway University, one of the bigger challenges Stockdale faced was the climate the games were held in. Being near the equator, Thailand experienced temperatures of upwards of 95 degrees, according to Stockdale, a drastic change from the chilly weather of Owensboro recently.
Winning gold overcame Stockdale with emotions of excitement and joy that all his hard work had paid off, he said.
“I was really overcome with excitement and joy,” he said. “I worked hard for these past six months since I’ve been picked for the team to go up there and represent the best I could. I think I did what I set out to do. You know, I set out every meet to get a new PR, but if I can come away with some medals that’s a plus.”
Through his high school career, Stockdale had won the 3A adapted shot put state title for Apollo High School 3 years in a row. He added a record-setting 3A adaptive discus championship in 2023, earning him an athletic and academic scholarship to Midway University.
This past summer, Stockdale competed in national meets in Chicago, Atlanta, and Hoover, Alabama, winning gold at all three. He also claimed the national discus record with a throw of 37.93 meters, which converts to 122 feet and 44 inches. Now, he can add three international gold medals to his list of accomplishments. This newest accomplishment of his is another steppingstone on his way to competing for the U.S. Paralympic team, he said.
“I think of it as another steppingstone to where I want to be,” he said. “I want to perform at the highest level possible, which is the Paralympics. If breaking records and not necessarily getting medals, but just hitting those marks is another step, I’m all for it and I’m taking it.”
