FLM: Anyone that will see or read your story will consider both you and Leroy heroes in your own right. Tell me about your heroes.
Dartanyon: Honestly, I’ve never really had heroes growing up. There was never anyone that exemplified that to me as a child. It wasn’t until I grew up that I realized there were a lot of unsung heroes in my life. Some teachers, my dad and friends who took
the extra time to help me in some areas. In fact, I had some teachers that always told me that I had potential and they went above and beyond to express that. It was how they treated me as a human being instead of looking at me as a burden. With everything that my Dad and I went through, including his drug addiction, a lot of people would have burned that relationship a long time ago. He always told me that he loved me and that he was proud of me. He reminded me often that it was his job to make me a better man than him. Although there were times he would make mistakes he was always a good father. That stands out, especially with his addiction. He made sure that he was a parent when I needed it the most.
FLM: Lisa Fenn wanted to tell your inspiring story to others, but during the process something much more significant happened. Describe the time when you realized that she was now your family and not just a TV producer.
Dartanyon: There were a lot of moments leading up to that, but the biggest moment was at a powerlifting
competition. We were competing at
one of the inner city schools and Lisa
was there filming with an ESPN crew. Several people had stuff stolen including me. My wallet, which had my ID, social security card, money, and the most important things that I needed were gone. The next day she took me to get all of my things replaced, including my cell phone and she paid for it out of her own pocket. She did it without hesitation. I knew people my entire life that wouldn’t do anything like that.
FLM: Compare the similarities and/or differences competing in Judo vs. wrestling, as it relates to their preparation and difficulty.
Dartanyon: They’re both really difficult sports. It’s really apples and oranges when it comes to difficulty, because you can’t really compare the two. The biggest difference for me in transitioning over was wrestling being more focused towards the ground with a slower center of gravity, while Judo competes higher up. There is a lot more finesse and technique involved with judo such as balance and stability and not a lot of driving your opponent. There are a lot more throws and submissions are allowed in Judo. I like Judo more now, because I’ve gone further and it’s opened more doors versus wrestling.
"The underlying piece to being a hero is the caring and compassion that they show towards others."