Olympics - A source of Inspiration

Beijing '08 is going to see lots of new challenges, aspirations and fighters.
Just wanna share about 3 people who inspired me a lot with their fight to get into the Beijing Olympics. Three awesome fighters fighting to challenge, fighting for pride, fighting to win!

1. Natalie du Toit :

Being a swimmer at 16, she nearly missed the opportunity to qualify for the Sydney Olympics, 2000. Not losing heart, she took a stand to enter into the next Olympics in Athens, 2004. Practised day and night for it. Things changed. She met with an accident in 2001. Lost her left leg. Everyone said that was an end to her Olympics dream. Less than two years after the accident, she qualified for the finals of the 800 meter freestyle at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, marking the first time an amputee in the modern era had raced in the finals of an able-bodied international swimming competition. That day, Du Toit wasn't close to winning. But that hardly mattered. She was named outstanding athlete of the Games, beating Aussie Ia Thorpe, who had won six golds, one silver, ands set a new world record. Out of necessity, she switched to distance freestyle after the accident. But although her body and events have changed, her goals haven't.
"I have always had a dream to take part in an Olympic Games, and losing my leg didn't change anything," she says.
Guess what, She is qualified to participate in 10km Open Water event in the Beijing Olympics.

** Her famous quote, "Everything is possible if you can just believe"

I believe this is what is being a leader. Focusing on what you want.
Thanks Natalie, thanks for being a leader :)

2. Oscar Pistorius :



Oscar Pistorius known as the "fastest man on no legs" a double amputee, the South African athlete is the world record holder in his category for the 100, 200 and 400 meters sprints. Even more remarkably, he took the silver medal over 400 meters in the 2007 South African National Championships competing against able-bodied runners. That gave rise to the exciting possibility of him competing in the Beijing Olympic Games for South Africa.
But a damn inspiring person, when asked, "How do you manage sprinting without both the legs and how different is it for you? ". He says he never really knew anything different. Pistorius was only 11 months old when his parents made the wrenching decision to have his limbs amputated below the knee. But this freak didn't miss any sport, he represented sports ranging from water polo, cricket, tennis, rugby, soccer, wrestling at different levels. 
But unfortunately he failed to qualify, missed the Olympics berth by ONE SECOND.
After that he said, "It's an opportunity for me to perform better"

I believe this is what is being a leader. Operating from ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
Thanks Oscar, thanks for being a leader :)

3. Eric Shanteau :




When Eric Shanteau touched the wall second at the U.S. Olympic trials, he was overcome by the joy of reaching a lifelong goal. The celebration didn't last long. Shanteau had barely locked up his trip to Beijing when he was forced to deal with a gut-wrenching choice: Should he have surgery for the testicular cancer hardly anyone knew about? Or, should he put it off for another month so he could swim at his first Olympics?
Shanteau chose the Olympics. Surgery will have to wait.
When asked about what if something happens to you during the Olympics,
“If something comes up abnormal,” he said, “then that’s kind of a barrier I shouldn't’t cross.”
"What was the Doctor's advice for you attending the Olympics?", he said, "Sometimes, the best decisions are not always exactly the way the doctor sees it"
He said, "I got cancer and the cancer hasn't got me"

I believe this is what is being a leader. You ruling the circumstance and not letting the circumstance rule you.
Thanks Shanteau, thanks for being a leader :)

Got inspired? :)
If you know anyone else who has fighted into this or any of the previous Olympics, do let us know :)
Thanks for replying :)