"It's about a bond."
Back in 2015, these were the words ESPN reporter Tom Rinaldi used to introduce the story of Isaiah Bird and Miguel Rodriguez in the SC Featured segment "Isaiah Bird: No Excuses." Bird, now 9 years old, is a competitive wrestler who was born without legs. Rodriguez has been Bird's coach and teacher's assistant since the young competitor was 5.
Two years later, the bond between Bird and Rodriguez remains strong, and Bird has continued to develop into quite the gifted wrestler.
Bird went 27-12 this past year. When asked about his success, Bird says that he just keeps pushing on to be the best he can.
"[I say:] 'I can do this. There's no excuses. I can do this.' And I just do it," Bird told ABC News. "And I keep practicing and practicing. If I, one day I get pinned ... I go back to practicing and practicing and I get better and better and better."
During the SC Featured segment two years ago, Rodriguez told ESPN that he would always be a part of Bird's life. Today, he continues to regard Bird as an inspiration, and says he hopes Bird never changes his personality.
"He has no idea what changes he's making in other people," Rodriguez told ABC News. "Hopefully one day he can be a motivational speaker. Maybe he can, you know, travel the world and just show people that, you know what, he did it and that they can do it, too."