WE SHOULD ALL BE WATCHING NOW
Just because Michael Phelps has hung up his Speedo and Usain Bolt is eyeing the NFL, doesn’t mean we should be ignoring the other Olympics. The 2008 Paralympic Games should put us all to shame. I’ll never complain about a bad hair day or my jeans fitting too tight after seeing some of these astonishing athletes in action. Again, it saddens me that the entire world tuned in to watch athletes with all their limbs when it seems to me that harder challenge is winning a gold medal without an arm, or knocking out a new world record in track even though you have no legs.

If I were the editor of Time magazine, my cover would include some of the following athletes…selected for their spirit, determination, inspiration, courage, and overall sensational ability to compete, win and remind us all that anything is indeed possible.

Oscar Pistorius (C) of South Africa, Jerome Singleton (L) of the United States, and Christoph Bausch (R) of Switzerland pose on the podium after the Men’s 100m T44 Final Athletics event at the National Stadium during day three. Pistorious, as you may recall, is a double-amputee, nicknamed ‘Blade Runner’, who recently won a legal battle for the right to run in the Beijing Olympics against able-bodied athletes…he did not compete because he failed to meet the qualifying time in the 400…but he did win the gold today in the 100-meter with a time of 11.17. “I had a tough start and a slow first 30 meters,” Pistorius said. “I really just pulled out all the stops.” American Jerome Singleton trailed in 11.20, and Brian Frasure of the United States earned bronze in 11.50.

How about this guy: Lucas Prado? The Brazilian sprinter won the men’s 100m T11 final by breaking his world record and earning a gold medal in 11.03 seconds. Amazing considering that he is completely blind.

Another babe from Brazil is Daniel Dias. Dias won gold in the Men’s 100m Freestyle S5….and the men’s 200m freestyle final with a new paralympic world record of 2:32. “It was sensational. It took me a while to realize I had won, as I wasn’t a favorite in this event,” said Dias. “Two races, two golds. But this one has a better taste because it was decided on the touch, so it was more exciting.” Decided by a touch? Kinda like one of Phelps’ win…but without NBC sharing it with us.

Andriy Kalyna of the Ukraine also earned a gold medal in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB8… he shattered the world record in the men’s 100 breast with a time of 1:07.01.

Much, much more info available on all these amazing athletes at xinhuanet.com

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As always, thanks for reading.
Delinda Lombardo
delinda@athlebrities.com