Every once in a while, you come across a story that really makes you feel good. That makes you believe in what people call ‘the triumph of the human spirit’.
The medals of Vijender Kumar and Sushil Kumar are triumphs in the face of official apathy and indifference, and these guys deserve every last bit of the praise they get. They have run harder and longer than most others to get to this stage. But for me, the defining story has to be that of Natalie du Toit. A swimmer with an amputated leg, she not only qualified for the Summer Olympics (a first), she also competed in what people call the toughest swimming event, the 10 km open water race. And she finished 16th, a minute and twenty-two seconds behind the winner, and ahead of 9 other able-bodied Olympic-level swimmers, including the winner at the Pan American games of 2007.
These are true parables of dreams and determination. And amidst the well-deserved accolades that Phelps and Bolt have got, let us remember the odds that were stacked against Vijender and Sushil. And let us also recognise the uplifting story of one woman’s spirit, her fight and triumph.
The Quirky Indian 
August 22, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Yup!
I think some people are like that (making it worth the whole thing…)they simply refuse go down 🙂 🙂
August 22, 2008 at 6:31 pm
@ QI
That open water race is a weird event. It was included for the first time this year and will remain I think. When interviewed, many swimmers reported that some bit of jostling, kicking etc. is common although there is a system of yellow and red cards, which clearly is not a big deterrent. Natalie du Toit’s performance must be seen against this backdrop of a tough sport (as you mention) and not a 100% sportsmanship. Very amazing!
On a different note, Jacques Rogge told Usain Bolt off for too much show-boating. Has Rogge forgotten what it is to be 22 and be on the top of the world in one’s field? He is a former Olympian too. What a kill joy!
August 22, 2008 at 6:59 pm
@ QI:
Despite what I say about Rogge here, he has given an interesting interview to Mihir Bose about the trends and whether sport achievements can or should be compared etc.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/7576213.stm
August 23, 2008 at 11:15 am
@mystiquedew – true grit, isn’t it? You’re absolutely right, people like these make it worth it… 🙂
@Shefaly – apparently Natalie also gives as good as she gets when it comes to the jostling, kicking and hitting! More power to her. 🙂
As for Rogge, he later qualified his statement saying Bolt’s young and would learn. While I feel he has a point about the (largely superficial) niceties of sport, (boxers trying to beat the hell out of each other, but going in for a perfunctory hug after the bout etc.) since it does give a veneer of ‘civilised competition’ to the whole thing, he forgets the adrenalin rush after a sprint as phenomenal as Bolt’s…..at that time, it’s just the athlete and the glory, and it’s too much to ask to hold back the exultation….
August 23, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Oh yes I take heart from these people to continue with day on day activities!
August 23, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I am totally kicked that India got 3 medals – & I looked to compare with all the other countries that we had scored over, and there was a huge list!! Bahamas, Venezuela, Iran… 😀 Kick-ass! 😀 & All the 3 deserve all the praise! They have struggled against many many odds! Infact, Akhil Kumar had to fight the board to let his trainer accompany him to the Olympics!
& Natalie & Phelps are the shining stars of my work life right now! Phelps has ADHD, and Natalie is an amputee! They have proved to the world that ‘Disability’ is in the world’s eyes, not theirs! Totally Kick ASS!!! 😀
August 23, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Incredible feat, that! Worth appreciating! 😀
And yeah, I don’t even wanna get started on the Indian athletes woes and the govt’s apathy… Too much have been written about them in vain! 😀
August 24, 2008 at 10:39 am
Hi Quirky 🙂
I followed your 2 news links in your post.
Quite unbelievable, especially in Indianexpress…
People need real courage to compete under these conditions… Plus they have to pay?…
And they still get medals!
About IOC and Rogge, I put several posts. I could understand some countries’ behavior because money and business.
But from IOC and Rogge, it is unacceptable.
I hope he will not be reelected next year…
Anyway, congratulations to your athletes!
August 24, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Hi QI –
I saw the women’s open water race that you mentioned. Wow! That’s a tough sport. Tough enough to swim 10,000 metres (non-stop, without those floatey armbands, mind you!), much less on open water in a herd of people.
As for Natalie du Toit, of course I was impressed by her amazing athleticism. But what impressed me more was the personality, humility and strength of character that came beaming through in the post-race interview. She is certainly the sort of athlete whose life-example could teach us all a lot.
August 25, 2008 at 9:21 am
Irony! I didn’t even know about the lady.
In the run for covering people excelling, news about the spirit gets lost…yup time indeed to celebrate the spirit of such sportsman.
Every medal won by Indians is worth celebrating because we can blindly say that it is against all odds.
August 25, 2008 at 9:55 am
@Che – don’t tell me you’ve stopped going to the gym….get inspired, dude! 😉
@Aparna – we ranked 50th….decent, all things considered..can we now improve?
..kick-ass is correct.
@Nikhil – let’s hope things get better. 🙂
@fvarga – yes, our athletes got those medals in the face of every bureaucratic cock-up possible. As for Rogge, well, what more can one say?
@Liam – I didn’t see the interview, but from what you say, she truly is a great source of inspiration. And she’s never once asked to be treated differently – if anything, in the free-for-all open race, she dishes out as much as she gets.
@Smita – let’s hope we’re witnessing the beginnings of change here.