RUNNING IN THE OLYMPICS WITHOUT LEGS

Physical disability is no bar to live one's dream. In the

history of humankind there are many men and women who lived

their dream despite physical disability. The obvious names

which come to mind are those of Helen Keller, Stephen Hawking,

and numerous blind musicians and singer and poets.



Helen Keller was deaf and blind. Stephen Hawing suffers from a

disease known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which

is a progressive, usually fatal, neurodegenerative disease

caused by the degeneration of motor neurons, the nerve cells

in the central nervous system that control voluntary

muscle movement.



However, most of them had to revise their dreams to suit

their disability. Helen Keller could read only Braille,

Stephen Hawing lives in the world of mind (and theoretical

science) and many others excel in the fields unrelated to

their disability.



But here is the example of somebody who fought against all

odds and excelled in the same field for which he was not

well equipped.



This is the story of Oscar Pistorius who was born without

fibulas (the thin outer bone between the knee and ankle) and

was 11 months old when his legs were amputated below the

knee. He now uses prosthetics. Pistorius holds the 400m

Paralympic world record of 46.56 seconds, but that time is

outside the Olympic qualifying standard of 45.55. He

could also be included in South African Olympic 1,600 relay

squad.



On January 14, 2008, the International Amateur Athletics

Federation (IAAF), ruled him ineligible for competitions

conducted under the IAAF rules, including the 2008 Summer

Olympics. But on May 16, 2008, Court of Arbitration for

Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, overturned the ruling. And now

even IAAF says that it accepts the binding decision. Its

President said that he is an inspirational man and we look

forward to admiring his achievements in the future.



All this goes to prove that persistence and will power

overcomes all hurdles.



Live The Life Beautiful!

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Now, Year Round and Forever!