My Beijing Heroes!
One man, born on August 21, 1986 in the small village of Jamaica, started his sporting life mainly as a Footballer and a good Cricketer. His Cricket coach discovered the potential of this man in Track and Field and ask him to focus his energy on improving his athletic abilities. With the passage of time, this small-town lad had grown up to be a 6ft 5in. champion! With 3 Gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100M relay in the Summer Olympics of 2008 in Beijing, this man became the first in History to set world records in all these three events at a single Olympics. Very soon, the whole world went nuts over Bolt, The Lightning Man!
Born on June 30, 1985, to Fred, a Police officer in Deborah, a School Principal, this man was diagnosed with Attention Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) during his youth. It is characterized by a persistent pattern of impulsiveness and inattention, with or without a component of hyperactivity. He started swimming at the age of seven, partly because of the influence of his sisters and partly to provide him with an outlet for his energy. At the end of the Summer Olympics of 2008, the whole world stood awestuck and mesmerized by what this man could do. With 8 Gold Medals (7 World Records and 1 Olympic Record) in 8 days, he broe the record for the most number of Gold Medals won at a single Olympics and soon became a World phenomenon. Michael Phelps, The Baltimore Bullet!
A young girl born on June 3, 1982 to parents of humble means. Her father, Gadzhi Gadzhiyevich Isinbaev was a member of a small Ethnic group of Tabasarans and her mother was a shop assistant and an Ethnic Russian. The Russian lass soon evolved into a World Champion and the possessor if 24 World Records (14 outdoor and 10 indoor) staying virtually unbeaten since the Olympic Games of 2004. In the Beijing Olympics, she had cleared 5.05 metres to set her 24th World Record. This lady taught everyone that unless one undertakes more that one can possibly do, one will never do all that is possible. At the age of 26, Yelena Isinbayeva is seen as the best pole-vaulter in sporting history. Yelena Isinbayeva, always raising the bar!
Sports bring out the best in people and these champions are madefrom something they have deep inside them, a desire, a dream and a vision to succeed. Sport is a theatre where sinner can turn saint and a common man can become an uncommon hero. The real contest is always between the one who has done and what one is capable of doing. The Olympics still remain the most compelling search for excellence that exists in sport, and maybe in life itself!
