Blind American football player makes winning debut

  • Published
Jake Olson wears the 61 jerseyImage source, Parasports World

A blind American football player has achieved his childhood dream of playing for the University of Southern California.

Jake Olson lost his sight when he was 12, but was determined not to let it stop him from playing for the USC Trojans.

He also helped 'snap the ball' to set up a kick for the final point of the game.

The 20-year-old student says "it turned out to be a beautiful moment".

He imagined playing college football before he lost his sight due to retinal cancer but refused to give up his dream.

Jake helped his team score the final point in a game against West Michigan University by snapping the ball between his legs to help set up a kick.

He celebrated the win in front of 70,000 fans, saying after the game, "I just loved being out there.

"It was an awesome feeling, something that I'll remember forever.

"Getting to snap at USC as a football player... I'm trying to say as much as I can, because I can't quite believe it yet."

Jake has been on USC's football programme since 2009 after he was spotted by former coach Pete Carroll who heard about his cancer and support for the Trojans.

He lost his left eye when he was 10 months old and had to have the right eye removed when he was 12 - his final wish was to watch the Trojans' practice the night before he had the surgery.

He has been training with the Trojans since 2015, having enrolled at the university on a scholarship for physically challenged athletes.

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