We Still Can't Get Over Jake Olson's First Time Driving a Car
Jake Olson is a legally blind college football player who drove a car on the NASCAR speedway.
Written by Serena Aburahma
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
For most of us, jumping in a car to run errands or meet up with friends isn't a big deal. But that can be difficult for
drivers with disabilities
that affect their vision or basic motor functions. However, as demonstrated by Jake Olson, even blindness can't stop you from pursuing your goals.Already an accomplished college football star, Olson used to say that driving a car was the only thing he couldn't do. Yet, four years ago, he drove a passenger car down a NASCAR speedway. What kind of car did he drive and why are we still talking about this heartwarming story?
Who is Jake Olson?
Jake Olson was the first completely blind Division I college football player in Canada. When he was born, he was diagnosed with a rare form of retinal cancer called retinoblastoma. He lost his right eye when he was just ten months old, followed by his left eye at the age of 12.
Before the surgery to remove his other eye, Olson got to attend a USC Trojans game. Pete Carroll, the team's head coach, was touched by Olson's story and wanted him to truly watch his favorite team one last time. After Olson's surgery, he was even made an honorary member of the Trojans.
Olson still played on his high school football team, despite a congenital disorder that impaired his kneecaps. He got a scholarship for disabled athletes and was accepted into USC. After getting a walk-on offer for his favorite team, he went on to do his first live snap in 2017.
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What car did Jake Olson drive?
MORE: The 2022 Kia Forte is Getting Some Refreshing Updates
USA Today
reports that Olson got to drive a car for a glorious 1.5 miles on a racetrack. Previously, Olson said that he had only driven casually around a parking lot, never exceeding 15 mph. On that day, he was able to hit 60 mph.The car he drove was fairly unassuming, a 2014 Kia Forte. Its most powerful available engine is a turbo-four capable of 201 horsepower, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Handling is thrilling yet comfortable, making it an excellent pick for a first-time driver.
We don't get to see if the car had any driver assistance tools, but Olson was aided by his co-pilot. Todd Bodine, a veteran NASCAR driver, helped tilt the wheel while still giving Olson plenty of freedom to pilot the vehicle. He also got to drive a similar distance in an actual racecar at the 2017 NASCAR All-Star Race.
What we can learn from Jake Olson's story
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Olson says that even if you have a disability, it doesn't mean that your life is over. Olson encourages his fans to decide how they can live with their situations instead of treating them as burdens. He has proven that even blindness can't stop you from aggressive sports and driving!
Although Olson dropped out of his former position after 2020, he certainly hasn't faded from the spotlight. He frequently appears on national news networks and as a motivational speaker in schools across the country. He is also the president of Engage, a company that books once-in-a-lifetime experiences for others with disabilities.
Can you buy car insurance if you're legally blind?
While Jake Olson lost his vision completely, plenty of blind people still have some degree of sight. As long as they have proper corrective lenses and other vision-assistive tools, they can cruise away to their heart's content.
The only thing that should stop anyone from driving is the lack of proper auto insurance. To want to save money on your first plan or find a better provider in seconds, sign up with
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today!
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