Ethan Sebastian’s journey began quietly. Diagnosed with ADHD at age three, and later found to be on the autism spectrum, he faced early challenges that often made him feel out of step with peers. His family remembers how, in Pune, his first preschool “deemed him unfit for group activities” and excluded him from sports days. His parents, determined not to let labels define his potential, made sacrifices: they closed a business, relocated from Pune to Goa, and focused entirely on giving Ethan the support he needed.
It was in Goa, at the Sanjay Centre for Special Education, that Ethan found a more supportive space. He began therapies, enrolled in a martial arts school, and discovered a coach who could tap into his energy and focus. Under mentor Hussain Mulla (at CKB Martial Art Academy), Ethan first pursued karate before gravitating to musical-form kickboxing. Over time, that discipline became his outlet, his way to express strength, creativity, and rhythm.
Then came the moment that made history. In November 2024, Ethan competed in the World Kickboxing Championship in the Musical Form category in Alicante, Spain. He didn’t compete in a special bracket—he stood alongside “typical” sub-junior participants. When the results came in, he had done it: Gold. He became the first autistic child to represent India in kickboxing and the first to bring home world gold in musical form.
His mother, Manasi, still recalls the moment. “It was a surreal moment, and we’re still pinching ourselves. But it was all worth it, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.”
Ethan’s own words brimmed with pride: “I am a world champion now. I brought a gold medal for India.”
Those close to him see more than the medal. In his first school years, his path was rocky—by age six, the family had changed schools five times. But in his current environment, he thrives, combining academics with arts, sports, cooking, and multiple languages. His coaches have observed how kickboxing gives him structure, helps him focus, and channels his energy into something beautiful.
What does Ethan’s victory mean for the autism community? It’s a beacon: a reminder that limitations are often imposed by perceptions, not by potential. Children on the spectrum can compete, perform, and lead. Their strength can lie in their determination, their capacity for focus, their resilience.
As Ethan continues to train, to grow, and to dream, his story will inspire other children and families—showing that success doesn’t mean fitting inside a box. It means rising in your own rhythm.
Image Credit: The Goan