It is only when watching the Paralympics that the REAL essence of the Olympics comes out. For me, this 'moment', happened when i went to watch the cycling today. Finally, i managed to watch the cycling in the velodrome, after failing to buy tickets for events there 2 weeks ago. Today was incredible though. After the morning session was a 2 hour lunchtime break, during which athletes were warming-up for the afternoon session.
Many of the cyclists were physically disabled, though there were 3 types of disabilities competing at that day: those with loco-motor disabilities (i.e. unable to use certain limbs), those with cerebral palsy and those who were blind. During the warm-up a German athlete with only 1 leg was going incredibly fast and i was totally impressed -not just with the speed, but with the ability to balance on a racing bike that is on 30 degree angles too (if you have seen a velodrome you understand what i mean). Then, a few seconds later i realised he only had one arm as well!
It is one thing to work supremely hard to be the best at your sport, another to contemplate a sport involving balance and speed and how to partake in the sport with massive disadvantages for both! I quickly realised for the paralympic games, it is not just about winning; it really is about taking part. During the day, the TV screen showed clips of other athletes, 1 or 0 armed swimmers; blind, 1-legged, high-jumpers and many others. To do what they do, really is to defy belief. I was impressed. Very impressed!
Moving on from the feeling of self-inadequacy for not being disabled but being so incapable compared to the disabled athletes, I was also totally chuffed at finally getting tickets to the awesome velodrome, and, even more so, being able to see the Brits win all the events they entered (3 out of 6) and, thus, to see the Union Jack raised 3 times and hear the National Anthem 3 times. Unfortunately the Aussies were out-in-force and much louder than the few Brits there and so they stole the limelight. But, and what really matters, is that the Brits won more medals! Go Team GB; forever the champions at all the 'sitting down sports'.
Although that is slight sarcasm, since one of our guys broke his own world record by 6 seconds (out of a 3+ min race) and the other girls also broke all their own records too, i am (yet again) blown away by their performance. A great day all-round; cycling, records broken and Brits winning medals. What else can one want from a sunday!
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