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Jun 17, 2008 10:49 pm US/Central
Hopkins Teen Of Many Talents A Yo-Yo Champion
HOPKINS, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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The young world champion designed his own signature series of yo-yos and fans of his fancy finger-work are eager to try out the Black Night, named after John's favorite chess piece.
CBS
It doesn't take long to be mesmerized by what John Narum can do with a childhood toy. He's a world champion. The Hopkins teenager can move a yo-yo around faster than most of people can follow it with their eyes.
John was 4-years-old when he saw someone playing with yo-yos on TV. His mom found a yo-yo camp in Minneapolis, and for the next five years, that's where they spent their Friday nights.
The truth is John spent almost every night practicing his skills. There are yo-yos all over his house and protective plexi-glass over most of the TV and computer screens.
"I usually practice about a half-hour to an hour a day," said John. "But before a contest, I'll go on for about four hours a day."
It wasn't long until he was making up his own maneuvers and competing against adults. In 2005, he won the world championship of free style yo-yo, at the age of 11.
He'll go for the title again this year, making a stop on that journey at the Midwest Regionals this weekend at Mall of America. He's been ramping up the practice time in preparation.
"Well obviously first homework," he said. "But after that, I'll be either playing drums, working on a piece that I'm playing at school, or I'm yo-yoing or playing a baseball game."
John seems to have mastered more than just the yo-yo. He does well in school and has interest in too many things to leave much time for trouble.
"I play drums and guitar in a band. I also like to play chess and I also love to play baseball," he said.
He's modest too. He says he likes to play chess, but his room is filled with trophies showing he's quite the competitor at the game.
"I guess I've won a couple of trophies over the years," he said.
More like dozens. John is a teenager with more medals, trophies and mementos of excellence than video games.
He added track to the mix this year. He took two firsts in his first meet.
John is a young man with a passion to try many things, and he doesn't believe in going half-way on any of them. His parents, he says, are his biggest supporters but never pressure him to be the best at anything.
"They say that if you stop enjoying what you want to do then it's really not worth doing," said John.
His early interest in yo-yoing may actually help him with his long term plans. The young world champion designed his own signature series of yo-yos and fans of his fancy finger-work are eager to try out the
Black Night, named after John's favorite chess piece.
"Yo-yo Jam produces that yo-yo and with the royalties I get from that yo-yo I put into my college fund," said John.
He wants to go to law school as a backup, he says. He'd love make a living through one of his many hobbies. And with John, the only challenge in doing so may be picking one passion to zero in on.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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