GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Imagine being a three-time world champion, two-time Meijer State Games champion and the holder of over 100 world records.
It is a stacked resume, no matter the sport.
Now imagine doing it by the age of 12. That is the career arc for 12-year-old disc golfer Kaiden Bell.
"He eventually didn't want to stay in the stroller anymore," said Melissa, Kaiden's mom. "The focus was no longer on us. It was all on Caden and supporting his place in the sport."
Melissa and her husband, Adam, played disc golf together when they were 16 and 17.
"We're bringing a newborn to a league night," said Adam.
The pair's professional aspirations were halted after Kaiden's birth. Kaiden had skills that were surprising.
"We weren't expecting that... in the beginning, we just thought it was cute," said Melissa. "And then we were like, 'oh, he's really good at this. We should put him in a tournament.' And then he won his first tournament, and so the rest was history."
History for Kaiden is defined as three world championships. two Meijer State Games titles, and over 100 distance records to his name.
"I felt proud," Kaiden said, reflecting on his accolades, "Of course, I felt happy."
Disc golf has taken Kaiden across the country. Michigan, Illinois, Vermont, Wisconsin, Kansas, Florida and Oklahoma are just a few of the places Kaiden has competed. And he's done it all with his family by his side who all have disc golf experience.
"My dad is my caddy," Kaiden said. "[He's] helped my mental game and just making sure I don't throw a bad shot."
"As he gets older, he's throwing further and further, and his accuracy is actually improving more and more. And I'm just surprised every time," Melissa said. "I'm watching him grow in a field he's already very good at, and so every day, I'm very amazed with all of his accomplishments."
Disc golf has a tight-knit community. On any given day you can see the Michael Jordan of the sport "still is at a public course."
And with a resume that's already decorated, Kaiden "definitely has the skill set and the mental capacity," to be the Jordan of disc golf.
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