Paralympics

[Skinny]

 
I find it amazing that the SA able bodied olympians (or over paid, over rated sportsmen and woman) could not get one gold medal, yet our wonderous amacrocker-crocker are 7th on the medal log and still with so much sport to go.
. The SA Abled Bodied athletes should bow their heads in shame. I noticed last night that one of the world records for the four hundred meters was blown away by a disabled athlete and that was the abled record. Makes you think? What makes it more fantastic is that these sportsmen and woman are filled with dignity and pride and had to fly coach whilst the powers that be flew first class. Imagine you are sitting for 18 hours, cannot "walk" around the plane and are jammed next to fellow wrestler or shot putter, and you companion has to lift you over two other people, just to get to the bathroom!

[Michael Alexander]

What an awesome photo Pistorius made over the weekend.....and a cool nickname....'Bladerunner"

[SandyB]

Too  true  Kaye  .. Too  true ..  your  words are  indeed a tribute  to those  stars ..  and  yes the  powers  should  have  done the journey  on  the roof  carrier  instead ... 

[Bertie Horak]

For me there is absolutely no comparison between the olympic athletes and the paralympic athletes.  The former seemed to be concerned with money, image and accessories like fancy sunglasses or gallons of ink tattooed on strategic places to show how good they think they are.  Pathetic.

The paralympic athletes however amaze me with their great determination, modesty, simplicity, thankfulness and sportsmanship.  I'll be honest, I shed a few tears watching them, for instance: the Chinese guy finishing in silver position in the "butterfly swimming" - without arms!, or the medal ceremony for the shot-put for men with cerebral palsy - they couldn't stand still, or even hold their flowers, but the pride and modest appreciation for the applause by the crowd for their achievement shone from their faces, or the blind athlete after the 100 metres, who immediately stroked his medal with the tips of his fingers to "read" the inscription - his smile and the look of "I really did it" was so clear on his face,  WOW!

I'll look forward to the next Para-olympic games, but wouldn't mind missing the Olympics for able-bodied athletes!

[Michael Alexander]

What got me about the paralympics this time around, was the crowd support of the CHinese.... the place still drew large crowds compared to previous host nations.....

[Skinny]

I watched the 200m final last night. Two Chinese and one South African (forgot his name, I think he is an albino,bloody epilepsy meds, doctor doubled them!) He won and got his 3rd gold medal. The chinese supporters were cheering him on even though he beat the two chinese guys.
And what about Natalie Du Toit? She is amazing and so humble. Compare her to Ryk Nethling and you have got a real lady, who lives for her sport and if you have noticed, she goes and congratulates her opponents on the podium before she gets her medal. What a gal!

[Bertie Horak]

@ Skinny - His surname is Langenhoven.  He also got gold in the long jump and pentathlon.  All the SA paralympic athletes were so modest and humble in the interviews.  Great.  I hope they get paid a lot by the SA gov for their achievements.  We are number 6 on the medals table today.  That's excellent!  Did better than a lot of the big names.

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

I have the greatest respect and admiration for these athlete's.
Just love watching the Wheelchair Basketball.......the way they manoeuvre those chairs and co-ordinate their speed with catching and intercepting the ball.

[Skinny]

Thanks Bertie, brain taking its time to function. But Hilton was fantastic and at the closing ceremony Natalie Du Toit received the womans award for representing the true olympic spirit. 
And she was the first to congratulate her male counterpart. Now that shows you true sportmanship.

[Michael Alexander]

@Skinny, should;nt that read Sportwomanship?

ps..... Thanks for the Mielies.....!

[Skinny]

@ Michael you are right, sportswomanship. Although hate discriminting.
Hope the meilies taste good! And you are welcome!

[SandyB]

I  caught  snatches o the closing ceremony last night .. the part with the leaves falling down slowly was beautiful with the music dancing and symbolism of the letter to the  future .. brought a lump to my throat and  I went to sleep feeling   good ..

[Florrie van Zyl (Muir)]

One of the gold medal winners is a swimmer from Jarren's swimming club, Charl. He is coached here in Kimberley, no special treatment. The club's coach was also a swimmer in the paralympics many years ago.