Paralympic Games

[HelperElfMissy 42]

The upper body strength of a wheelchair track athlete is what impresses me - not so much the comparison of times between wheelchair athletes and able bodied.

 

My humbling moments were:

 

**seeing Kurt Fernley push to Gold in the marathon after ongoing trouble in previous events - what a well deserved gold.

 

**Seeing the young Aussie CP track athlete struggling not to pass out/throw up during the medal ceremony due to the build up of lactic acid - now that's intestinal fortitude.

 

**And the 'murderball' wheelchair rugby athletes - these competitors are all MORE than paraplegic - they are tetraplegic and quadriplegic (obviously not total) - Ryley Batt the Aussie Superstar of the team was born without legs, and without fingers on his hands - and he was the least disabled of his team! Most were disabled due to car accidents, motorbike accidents, diving into shallow water or surfing accidents - but there they were competing for thier country in what appears for all intents as a dalek like smash up derby!

 

I tip my hat to every single one of these athletes! Awesome work - and an inspiration.

[JA2340 16]

Just watched the Andrew Denton interview with Kurt Fearnley. (We'd taped it before!) He is quite a guy, and had a punishing program for the games, "I had one rest day" he said.

 

The whole lot of them amaze me, but the young chinese swimmer without arms was absolutely phenomenal! the only differemce between him swimming freestyle and butterfly was the kick style. Still an outstanding achievement.