Eric Taylor loves competing.

“Growing up basketball was my favorite but I’ve come to become a pretty good golfer,” Eric Taylor explained.

He tries to play three times a week in-between working at Nature’s Table and training for the Special Olympics.

“It gets me out and lets me be free and be me.”

And it was no different Saturday morning when the 34-year old joined hundreds of fellow athletes, supporters and even celebrities for the Polar Plunge at Seaworld’s Aquatica.

In true Orlando fashion it was 75 and sunny–so not a true polar plunge but the officials at Seaworld made sure that they dipped the pool down to a frisk 63-degrees.

Taylor chooses to ease into the chilly pool, as he took the plunge for his 5th straight year, this is his way of supporting the group that changed his life.

 “I was originally in a wheel chair, now I just use it for long distances or get tired I have it for emergencies,” Taylor said. “But when I was 8-years old and mom came across the program where I could play sports and live out my dreams.”

Debbie Taylor knew her son was born to play sports and she wasn’t going to let cerebral palsy hold him back.

“I was a Lions club member at the time, and I was asked to cook for one of their county competitions and that’s how I found out about it,” Debbie explained.  

And the two of them have never looked back. Eric and his mom pushing each other, taking care of one another and being true partners throughout the  750 Special Olympic competitions.

 “I never really had a favorite sports fan i follow. I followed a lot of sports but the person that influenced me a lot is my mom. I am a true momma’s boy and she’s with me at every practice, every training, every competition she’s right there with me.”