The Paralympics are held every two years after the Olympics in order to celebrate and recognize the achievements of athletes with impairments that are still able to compete at the elite level. Every Paralympian qualifies and is then entered into their respective event based on what type of disability the competitor has and the severity of the disability. Yet, every so often an athlete will be tugged into controversy due to disagreements with the IPC, International Paralympic Committee. This year, a disagreement has affected another athlete just before her the Paralympic dreams were about to be realized.
On Thursday, 17-year old Victoria Arlen was denied authorization to compete in the Paralympics due to the fact that her disability was not considered to be severe enough to compete against the other Paralympic competitors. Arlen was originally set to be a part of the able bodied 2012 American Swim team until she contracted a neurological disease that put her in a coma for two years, paralyzing both of her legs. After she overcame her a coma, Arlen began to train and swim competitively again. During this training, Arlen was able to break world records in her events and qualify for the 2012 Paralympics. However, on Thursday Arlen was told that she would not be able to compete because the severity of her injury did not match that of the other competitors in her classification.
In the Paralympics, competitors are put into different categories and classifications due to the specific type of disability they possess and the severity of that disability. There are six main groups of disabilities recognized in the Paralympics: spinal injuries, cerebral palsy, amputees, the blind or visually impaired, intellectual disabilities, and those whose disabilities fall outside of these groups, like dwarfism and multiple sclerosis. Competitors are then given a number to represent the severity of their disability once they are divided into their respective disability category. The numbers range from one, being the most severe, to ten, being the least severe. This becomes even more difficult in events like judo and weight lifting when competitors must also be divided by weight and ability level.
Well recently the IPC has tried to decrease the number of medals and disciplines in the Paralympics by looking beyond the disability of the competitors, and taking the athlete's potential ability into consideration. Looking at a person's "ability" accesses the functional potential of an athlete and does not take their disability into account. Because of these tests that the IPC now requires, the athletes are measured against a performance curve and strive, not to perform at the peak of their abilities, but to land on the correct side of the curve so that they will be allowed to compete. This takes away from what the Paralympics was created for.
I can relate, somewhat, because I, like Arlen, was in a coma for over two weeks. I had to overcome and deal with the effects of loosing memories and abilities. After overcoming the a coma, I did not remember how to talk, walk, or do simple activities like read or write. Now for someone like Arlen to overcome two years of being in a coma to make it to the Paralympics, being disqualified because her disability is not severe enough seems outlandish. A coma is a very serious medical issue for anyone, and overcoming the ramifications from a coma takes time. The amount of politics included in the classification process of athletes is outrageous, and the athletes must band together in order to make it through the controversy.
This time, however, the luck ended up being on the side of the athlete. Arlen contested the IPC's decision and won. The IPC reviewed the evidence and overturned their original decision, allowing for Arlen to compete in the 400 meters swim this weekend. However, this will not be the last time that a Paralympian faces resistance from the IPC. Everyone must remember, the next time something like this happens, that the Paralympics was created in order to celebrate differences. It was not created as a competition of ability against disability.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremonies create a new standard
As I informed everyone last night, the 2012 Paralympics have begun. With this new beginning, another Opening Ceremonies is performed for the world's entertainment and education. These Opening Ceremonies astonished me with their magnificent message, music, and celebrity guests.
The overall theme of the Opening Ceremonies was Enlightenment. This journey of knowledge and discovery was communicated perfectly throughout the ceremonies. The Opening Ceremonies began with Stephen Hawking, a celebrated theoretical physicist who has a motor neurone disease that has paralyzed him, introducing the idea of the human race being without limitations like the galaxy. From this, dancers performed a dance simulating the big bang, which captured every viewer's eye due to the intricacies of the choreography and use of props. The dance movements performed depicted how people manipulate and play with space and gravity.
Through this dance another message was also communicated for the audiences everywhere. Through the transition from the big bang to the creation of the world and society, the message of how people need to stop judging others by how they look, and rather look deeper at a person's character, was displayed for viewers everywhere. This is an important idea that I think is rarely focused on. More often than not, people judge and make friends based on their peer's superficial surface details rather than their inner character. A person should not be judge based on what clothes they wear or how they look, but on how they act.
The Opening Ceremonies continued with Sir Ian McKellen, actor who brought to life the roles of Magneto and Gandalf, guiding the main character, Miranda, through the world of literature and societal characteristics. A large book was introduced to the stadium, symbolizing human rights and equality, in order to represent some of the values that the Paralympics hold close to their hearts and try to promote through the games. During this section of the Opening Ceremonies, a choir of over one hundred people entered the stadium floor singing a song that celebrated science and the human endeavor. The sound the choir performed was some of the most touching music that I have ever had the pleasure of hearing.
After this section of the ceremonies, Queen Elizabeth entered the stadium to officiate the Ceremonies. Her participation in the Paralympics makes her one of the few leaders of a host country that has made an appearance at both the Olympics and Paralympics. Prince William and Kate were in attendance as well, serving as prime examples of support for the Paralympics. As the traditional section of the Opening Ceremonies continued, the UK wheelchair basketball team brought the Paralympic flag forward to be raised above London. This continued a tradition of the Paralympic and Olympic ceremonies that many hold dear to the hearts. The countries also made their way into the stadium celebrating all of the athletes who have the opportunity to represent their country and people who live with impairments daily. The United States made it to the Paralympics with 340 competitors and coaches. This makes the US one of the countries to watch throughout the games due to their strength in a wide variety of events.
A trio of Paralympians then set the Paralympic torch aflame. The first was future triathlete who plans to compete in the Paralympics of 2016 in Brazil. The torch was then passed to a current Paralympic athlete, a member of the UK's blind soccer team lead by the future contestant. The torch was then handed to a Paralympian from the very first Paralympics of Rome in 1916 that lit the London torch to symbolize the beginning of the 2012 Paralympics.
After the countries were introduced into the stadium, Ian McKellen once again highlighted literature by guiding the audience through the "Brave New World" created by books read worldwide. During this part of the ceremonies, it was demonstrated how reason and rights couple together in the written word to bring about the thoughts of one's imagination. This was one of the most inspiring parts of the Ceremonies for me because it showed how people can make the most of their lives by giving their minds the steering wheel.
Stephen Hawking also posed a thought provoking inquiry during this section of the Ceremonies. Hawking asked what could be better than the fact that there is no boundary for human capability. This was very inspiring because I believe that most of the time people convince themselves that if something is hard, it is impossible. That, however, is exactly what every competitor in the Paralympics is proving wrong. Paralympic athletes have had challenges and obstacles throughout their lives that put them in a difficult stage of life, but these athletes have worked and trained hard in order to compete at an elite level on a worldwide stage. The accomplishments of these athletes prove that just because something is hard does NOT mean it is impossible. You just have to have the will and perseverance to make it through.
This was echoed at the end of the ceremonies when Ian McKellen said, "Our greatest adventure still lies ahead." Through this one sentence, the world was challenged to transform their perceptions of everyday life because every human being is different, and the main point of the Paralympics is to give the opportunity for everyone, no matter their station in life, to excel. From the "glass ceiling" being broken by the main character of the Opening Ceremonies, the Paralympics began setting a new standard for future Opening and Closing Ceremonies to be measured against.
The Opening Ceremonies were breathtaking. If you want to watch them online in order to experience the full effect, which I totally recommend, put "2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremonies Video" in any search engine and watch a performance that will change your life.
The overall theme of the Opening Ceremonies was Enlightenment. This journey of knowledge and discovery was communicated perfectly throughout the ceremonies. The Opening Ceremonies began with Stephen Hawking, a celebrated theoretical physicist who has a motor neurone disease that has paralyzed him, introducing the idea of the human race being without limitations like the galaxy. From this, dancers performed a dance simulating the big bang, which captured every viewer's eye due to the intricacies of the choreography and use of props. The dance movements performed depicted how people manipulate and play with space and gravity.
Through this dance another message was also communicated for the audiences everywhere. Through the transition from the big bang to the creation of the world and society, the message of how people need to stop judging others by how they look, and rather look deeper at a person's character, was displayed for viewers everywhere. This is an important idea that I think is rarely focused on. More often than not, people judge and make friends based on their peer's superficial surface details rather than their inner character. A person should not be judge based on what clothes they wear or how they look, but on how they act.
The Opening Ceremonies continued with Sir Ian McKellen, actor who brought to life the roles of Magneto and Gandalf, guiding the main character, Miranda, through the world of literature and societal characteristics. A large book was introduced to the stadium, symbolizing human rights and equality, in order to represent some of the values that the Paralympics hold close to their hearts and try to promote through the games. During this section of the Opening Ceremonies, a choir of over one hundred people entered the stadium floor singing a song that celebrated science and the human endeavor. The sound the choir performed was some of the most touching music that I have ever had the pleasure of hearing.
After this section of the ceremonies, Queen Elizabeth entered the stadium to officiate the Ceremonies. Her participation in the Paralympics makes her one of the few leaders of a host country that has made an appearance at both the Olympics and Paralympics. Prince William and Kate were in attendance as well, serving as prime examples of support for the Paralympics. As the traditional section of the Opening Ceremonies continued, the UK wheelchair basketball team brought the Paralympic flag forward to be raised above London. This continued a tradition of the Paralympic and Olympic ceremonies that many hold dear to the hearts. The countries also made their way into the stadium celebrating all of the athletes who have the opportunity to represent their country and people who live with impairments daily. The United States made it to the Paralympics with 340 competitors and coaches. This makes the US one of the countries to watch throughout the games due to their strength in a wide variety of events.
A trio of Paralympians then set the Paralympic torch aflame. The first was future triathlete who plans to compete in the Paralympics of 2016 in Brazil. The torch was then passed to a current Paralympic athlete, a member of the UK's blind soccer team lead by the future contestant. The torch was then handed to a Paralympian from the very first Paralympics of Rome in 1916 that lit the London torch to symbolize the beginning of the 2012 Paralympics.
After the countries were introduced into the stadium, Ian McKellen once again highlighted literature by guiding the audience through the "Brave New World" created by books read worldwide. During this part of the ceremonies, it was demonstrated how reason and rights couple together in the written word to bring about the thoughts of one's imagination. This was one of the most inspiring parts of the Ceremonies for me because it showed how people can make the most of their lives by giving their minds the steering wheel.
Stephen Hawking also posed a thought provoking inquiry during this section of the Ceremonies. Hawking asked what could be better than the fact that there is no boundary for human capability. This was very inspiring because I believe that most of the time people convince themselves that if something is hard, it is impossible. That, however, is exactly what every competitor in the Paralympics is proving wrong. Paralympic athletes have had challenges and obstacles throughout their lives that put them in a difficult stage of life, but these athletes have worked and trained hard in order to compete at an elite level on a worldwide stage. The accomplishments of these athletes prove that just because something is hard does NOT mean it is impossible. You just have to have the will and perseverance to make it through.
This was echoed at the end of the ceremonies when Ian McKellen said, "Our greatest adventure still lies ahead." Through this one sentence, the world was challenged to transform their perceptions of everyday life because every human being is different, and the main point of the Paralympics is to give the opportunity for everyone, no matter their station in life, to excel. From the "glass ceiling" being broken by the main character of the Opening Ceremonies, the Paralympics began setting a new standard for future Opening and Closing Ceremonies to be measured against.
The Opening Ceremonies were breathtaking. If you want to watch them online in order to experience the full effect, which I totally recommend, put "2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremonies Video" in any search engine and watch a performance that will change your life.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Paralympics make their debut!
Recently the world has had the pleasure of experiencing the 2012 Olympics in London, England. These games were filled with many unforgettable moments of tears, smiles, and laughter. Medals were awarded to all of the victors in their respective events. The nation of England was also celebrated and recognized for its beauty and the influence and impacts that it has had upon the world over time. Now, as the London 2012 Olympics become history, the 2012 Paralympics begin giving those with impairments the opportunity to compete in sports at an elite level. The main purpose of the Paralympics is to promote and teach values of acceptance and appreciation for people with a disability.
During the Paralympics different sports are competed in on an international stage, exactly like the Olympics. These sports range from archery, sailing, swimming, and equestrian to sports more tailored for the competitors needs like sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair fencing. The competition present in the Paralympics is at the exact same intensity as the Olympics. The athletes have worked throughout their lives, overcoming challenges that most people never have to deal with, in order to represent their home nations and others facing impairments.
This is something that I believe is not really focused upon as much as it should be every two years when the Paralympics are held. The world sits beside their televisions to watch the Olympics every two years recording the events to ensure that they do not miss a moment of the Olympic experience. But when it comes to the Paralympics, people do not really pay attention to what occurs with the athletes representing their home country. I know I never really used to pay attention, or even acknowledge, the Paralympics in the past. I kind of knew it happened, but the results were not something I would check up on. Well, this year I am changing that.
I will be posting different news about the Paralympics as they unfold over the next eleven days. As I have already communicated, these people deserve as much support as we give our Olympians every two years. So if you want to follow the Paralympics 2012, go to http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/ to look at the new developments and medal count. I know it is what I will be doing. The Opening Ceremony has already occurred in London and recordings of it, as well as news of it, can be found online at You tube or the Paralympics cite.
During the Paralympics different sports are competed in on an international stage, exactly like the Olympics. These sports range from archery, sailing, swimming, and equestrian to sports more tailored for the competitors needs like sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair fencing. The competition present in the Paralympics is at the exact same intensity as the Olympics. The athletes have worked throughout their lives, overcoming challenges that most people never have to deal with, in order to represent their home nations and others facing impairments.
This is something that I believe is not really focused upon as much as it should be every two years when the Paralympics are held. The world sits beside their televisions to watch the Olympics every two years recording the events to ensure that they do not miss a moment of the Olympic experience. But when it comes to the Paralympics, people do not really pay attention to what occurs with the athletes representing their home country. I know I never really used to pay attention, or even acknowledge, the Paralympics in the past. I kind of knew it happened, but the results were not something I would check up on. Well, this year I am changing that.
I will be posting different news about the Paralympics as they unfold over the next eleven days. As I have already communicated, these people deserve as much support as we give our Olympians every two years. So if you want to follow the Paralympics 2012, go to http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/ to look at the new developments and medal count. I know it is what I will be doing. The Opening Ceremony has already occurred in London and recordings of it, as well as news of it, can be found online at You tube or the Paralympics cite.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Give Lance his life back!
People who overcome extreme odds should be celebrated not judged for
their victories. Lance Armstrong is an athlete who persevered through
the hardest of times, accomplishing some of the greatest achievements on
record for any athlete. Winning seven Tour de France titles in a row as
well as an Olympic medal, Armstrong was an idol for all Americans.
Having overcome cancer to go on and become a supreme bicyclist,
Armstrong showed the world that a person could overcome the biggest
obstacles in life to become a better, stronger person through
determination.
Lance Armstrong is a Texas native, born in Plano. He began is athletic career as a swimmer and triathlete, but focused upon biking after he won the U.S. Amateur Championship in cycling in 1991. After this win and amazing performance against trained professionals, Armstrong turned pro in cycling and participated in the 1992 Olympics. He did not come out with an Olympic medal in Barcelona, but Armstrong left a mark upon the sport.
As Armstrong continued to participate and win races worldwide in the cycling world, he also learned life-changing news. In 1996, at age 25, Armstrong learned that he had developed stage three testicular cancer. Armstrong immediately started treatment, chemotherapy, and operations to try and remove the tumor surgically. By the beginning of 1998, Armstrong went into complete remission and started training for competitive cycling again. He had his sights on France.
Armstrong began strenuous training focusing upon conditioning himself for the mountain sections of the Tour de France. Armstrong literally devoted his whole life to the sport of bike racing. And so the records began. In 1999 Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France title. This pattern was then repeated in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. From his success in the Tour de France, Armstrong was also able to start his Livestrong movement raising money for cancer survivors and promoting awareness information about cancer, a disease that affects so many people. After the 2005 win, Armstrong retired having broken the record for most consecutive wins of the Tour.
Of course, after setting a record like this, Armstrong was immediately accused of taking steroids and performance enhancing drugs. These allegations were usually dismissed due to the fact that Armstrong has passed over 500 drug tests throughout his cycling career. However, due to new allegations that Armstrong took EPO, a banned naturally occurring hormone known as a "blood booster", Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France wins, an Olympic win, and the ability to participate in the sport or coach another cyclist.
This punishment comes not because Armstrong admitted to using the banned substance, but because Armstrong did not wish to fight the charges any longer. He came to the point where "enough is enough" and does not wish for his family to be drug though this drama any more. It has become, as some have said, a "witch hunt" for Armstrong. There was no way he could win. I personally believe that to strip Armstrong of his titles, is strip away the glory of what he has accomplished during his life. To overcome, survive, and then compete on a world stage in a difficult sport is something that not many people could ever achieve. To take away Armstrong's titles takes away the role model position Lance has become for so many. Especially to do this when Armstrong was not taking some type of illegal steroid is just mind-boggling. There are sports athletes out there who do use steroids and go unpunished. I think that the only reason Armstrong was targeted was because he was able to accomplish what was thought to be unattainable. It becomes the result of pure jealousy. Because another cyclist was unable to perform at Armstrong's level, Armstrong was targeted. Is that sending the right message to the public? Don't do your best. Just do average. No! If seven wins were Armstrong's best, let him have those seven wins. It will be a goal for the rest of us to strive for.
Lance Armstrong is a Texas native, born in Plano. He began is athletic career as a swimmer and triathlete, but focused upon biking after he won the U.S. Amateur Championship in cycling in 1991. After this win and amazing performance against trained professionals, Armstrong turned pro in cycling and participated in the 1992 Olympics. He did not come out with an Olympic medal in Barcelona, but Armstrong left a mark upon the sport.
As Armstrong continued to participate and win races worldwide in the cycling world, he also learned life-changing news. In 1996, at age 25, Armstrong learned that he had developed stage three testicular cancer. Armstrong immediately started treatment, chemotherapy, and operations to try and remove the tumor surgically. By the beginning of 1998, Armstrong went into complete remission and started training for competitive cycling again. He had his sights on France.
Armstrong began strenuous training focusing upon conditioning himself for the mountain sections of the Tour de France. Armstrong literally devoted his whole life to the sport of bike racing. And so the records began. In 1999 Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France title. This pattern was then repeated in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. From his success in the Tour de France, Armstrong was also able to start his Livestrong movement raising money for cancer survivors and promoting awareness information about cancer, a disease that affects so many people. After the 2005 win, Armstrong retired having broken the record for most consecutive wins of the Tour.
Of course, after setting a record like this, Armstrong was immediately accused of taking steroids and performance enhancing drugs. These allegations were usually dismissed due to the fact that Armstrong has passed over 500 drug tests throughout his cycling career. However, due to new allegations that Armstrong took EPO, a banned naturally occurring hormone known as a "blood booster", Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France wins, an Olympic win, and the ability to participate in the sport or coach another cyclist.
This punishment comes not because Armstrong admitted to using the banned substance, but because Armstrong did not wish to fight the charges any longer. He came to the point where "enough is enough" and does not wish for his family to be drug though this drama any more. It has become, as some have said, a "witch hunt" for Armstrong. There was no way he could win. I personally believe that to strip Armstrong of his titles, is strip away the glory of what he has accomplished during his life. To overcome, survive, and then compete on a world stage in a difficult sport is something that not many people could ever achieve. To take away Armstrong's titles takes away the role model position Lance has become for so many. Especially to do this when Armstrong was not taking some type of illegal steroid is just mind-boggling. There are sports athletes out there who do use steroids and go unpunished. I think that the only reason Armstrong was targeted was because he was able to accomplish what was thought to be unattainable. It becomes the result of pure jealousy. Because another cyclist was unable to perform at Armstrong's level, Armstrong was targeted. Is that sending the right message to the public? Don't do your best. Just do average. No! If seven wins were Armstrong's best, let him have those seven wins. It will be a goal for the rest of us to strive for.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Harry Potter v. Hunger Games: Book Fight of the Century
I am a nerd. While most people my age are tanning by the pool, or
shopping at the mall, getting their nails done, or going to the clubs, I
am usually at home reading my next "favorite" book. I have gone through
the Lord of the Rings series, the Uglies series, and the Percy Jackson
series. I have read every Rick Riordan book, literally, and I feel no
embarrassment what so ever shopping for book in the "Young Teen" section
of Barnes and Noble even through I am twenty-three. Recently, I saw an article saying that The Hunger Games had passed The Harry Potter series as the best selling book series on Amazon. Well I am a huge fan of both of these series and what startled me most about this announcement was that people immediately started saying which series was better based purely on sales. I believe that this should not be done.
Harry Potter became an idea for JK Rowling in 1990, twenty-two years ago, and the first book did not come out until June 1997. This means that the Harry Potter craze has been going on for fifteen years. There have been seven books published, eight movies made, and countless of childhood fantasies enhanced by the HP book series. I know when I was first introduced to Harry, Ron, and Hermione in The Sorcerer's Stone, I first started to love reading. Without the Harry Potter series I may have never discovered reading as a hobby or possible profession. Harry Potter was also an impetus for the growing popularity of Young adult literature worldwide. Without Harry Potter and JK Rowling, there might not be a Twilight series or Hunger Games trilogy. For this reason, to say that Harry Potter, or Hunger Games, is a better book series based purely on sales is a huge oversight. These book series are dependent upon each other. Without the success of Harry Potter, Hunger Games may not have reached the hearts and hands of countless fans.
I say all of this being a huge fan of both series. I love how the Hunger Games presents a strong female protagonist that is willing to fight for her family and for the betterment of the nation she lives in. I also love how the topic of attraction between young adults is presented in Hunger Games. The game of love is never an easy obstacle to overcome. The truth and level of attraction between two people is never obvious, so showing how the female protagonist deals with the love triangle she becomes a part of illustrates how girls today can cope and deal with "love" when it enters that inevitable grey area filled with questions and difficult decisions. Harry Potter also dives into the relationship part of a young adults life through the setting of school, but I believe that the topic of how to deal with relationships always comes second to the big picture plot of the HP series. The overall plot of the HP series is an enthralling one of good versus evil, however, showing how a person's character is what decides the direction of a individual's life journey. Balanced by well timed humor, the HP series hooks a person from the beginning.
In the end, both the Harry Potter and Hunger Games series are excellent books that must be read. They both bring similar issues of a young adult's life to the table, but the different plot lines present these issues in different light. Once you read both series, then you can determine if what I say is wrong or right.
Harry Potter became an idea for JK Rowling in 1990, twenty-two years ago, and the first book did not come out until June 1997. This means that the Harry Potter craze has been going on for fifteen years. There have been seven books published, eight movies made, and countless of childhood fantasies enhanced by the HP book series. I know when I was first introduced to Harry, Ron, and Hermione in The Sorcerer's Stone, I first started to love reading. Without the Harry Potter series I may have never discovered reading as a hobby or possible profession. Harry Potter was also an impetus for the growing popularity of Young adult literature worldwide. Without Harry Potter and JK Rowling, there might not be a Twilight series or Hunger Games trilogy. For this reason, to say that Harry Potter, or Hunger Games, is a better book series based purely on sales is a huge oversight. These book series are dependent upon each other. Without the success of Harry Potter, Hunger Games may not have reached the hearts and hands of countless fans.
I say all of this being a huge fan of both series. I love how the Hunger Games presents a strong female protagonist that is willing to fight for her family and for the betterment of the nation she lives in. I also love how the topic of attraction between young adults is presented in Hunger Games. The game of love is never an easy obstacle to overcome. The truth and level of attraction between two people is never obvious, so showing how the female protagonist deals with the love triangle she becomes a part of illustrates how girls today can cope and deal with "love" when it enters that inevitable grey area filled with questions and difficult decisions. Harry Potter also dives into the relationship part of a young adults life through the setting of school, but I believe that the topic of how to deal with relationships always comes second to the big picture plot of the HP series. The overall plot of the HP series is an enthralling one of good versus evil, however, showing how a person's character is what decides the direction of a individual's life journey. Balanced by well timed humor, the HP series hooks a person from the beginning.
In the end, both the Harry Potter and Hunger Games series are excellent books that must be read. They both bring similar issues of a young adult's life to the table, but the different plot lines present these issues in different light. Once you read both series, then you can determine if what I say is wrong or right.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Three time Gold Medalists
Last night was one of the most eye-catching and inspiring displays of tenacity and devotion to sports I have seen during these Olympic games. Three Americans performed at the peak of their sport and were able to bring additional gold medals home to the United States.
My favorite performance of last night was the gold medal game of Women's Beach Volleyball that pitted the best two American teams against each other. The team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings met their fellow Americans, Jennifer Kessy and April Ross, on the sand court to battle it out for the top spot in the world of Beach Volleyball. Now I must confess that I was a bit bias rooting solely for May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings to win the match. I have long been a fan of their team, finding an insurmountable amount of honor and patriotism in every second they played. Over the past twelve years, May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings have gone undefeated in the past three Olympics. This duo has only lost one set during that period of time putting themselves into a whole new division in the beach volleyball world. I think that if May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings were not considered to be the best beach volleyball pair yet, some major recalculations would need to be done. These two women have battled injuries, given birth to multiple children, fostered their new families, as well as inspired a nation of young women to follow their dreams. Now having won their third straight Olympic gold, May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings will no longer be playing beach volleyball competitively. They will continue their strong friendship, but more of their time will be spent away from the training facilities. Walsh Jennings may make an appearance at the next Olympics in Rio de Janiero, but May-Treanor will only be a spectator in 2016. I think that their performance on the volleyball court has never been short of amazing, and I know that May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings will forever be one of my favorite Olympic teams.
The other amazing Olympic achievement that was accomplish last night was the Men's 110m Hurdle gold won by Aries Merritt. Merritt ran this race in an astonishing 12.92 seconds blowing away the competition. What makes me such a fan of Merritt's is the fact that this hurdler hails from Bryan, Texas. This means that grew up in the neighboring town of College Station. For that reason I will cheer from Merritt during every race he runs as should every Aggie and Texan.
My favorite performance of last night was the gold medal game of Women's Beach Volleyball that pitted the best two American teams against each other. The team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings met their fellow Americans, Jennifer Kessy and April Ross, on the sand court to battle it out for the top spot in the world of Beach Volleyball. Now I must confess that I was a bit bias rooting solely for May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings to win the match. I have long been a fan of their team, finding an insurmountable amount of honor and patriotism in every second they played. Over the past twelve years, May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings have gone undefeated in the past three Olympics. This duo has only lost one set during that period of time putting themselves into a whole new division in the beach volleyball world. I think that if May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings were not considered to be the best beach volleyball pair yet, some major recalculations would need to be done. These two women have battled injuries, given birth to multiple children, fostered their new families, as well as inspired a nation of young women to follow their dreams. Now having won their third straight Olympic gold, May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings will no longer be playing beach volleyball competitively. They will continue their strong friendship, but more of their time will be spent away from the training facilities. Walsh Jennings may make an appearance at the next Olympics in Rio de Janiero, but May-Treanor will only be a spectator in 2016. I think that their performance on the volleyball court has never been short of amazing, and I know that May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings will forever be one of my favorite Olympic teams.
The other amazing Olympic achievement that was accomplish last night was the Men's 110m Hurdle gold won by Aries Merritt. Merritt ran this race in an astonishing 12.92 seconds blowing away the competition. What makes me such a fan of Merritt's is the fact that this hurdler hails from Bryan, Texas. This means that grew up in the neighboring town of College Station. For that reason I will cheer from Merritt during every race he runs as should every Aggie and Texan.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Free "Acappella" concert on August 12th at Grapevine Church of Christ
Some of the most amazing, entertaining, and truly awe-inspiring music is a cappella music sung by a small group or choir. A cappella music is sung without the assistance of instruments. To be able to sing a whole song a cappella without going off key or off rhythm takes an immense amount of talent and practice. I have been a part of groups that sing a cappella songs, and I can
honestly say that a cappella music takes twice the rehearsal time and
effort. For this reason when different music groups are formed that sing purely a cappella music well, their performances are jaw dropping.
A cappella groups are often present on different college campuses nationwide. At Texas A&M there were three different a cappella groups supported by the university. In order to be a part of these groups, students went through rigorous auditions in which they performed a popular song solo and also demonstrated their beat boxing skills. Beat boxing is necessary for all members of a cappella groups to know because without any instrumental assistance, beat boxing is the only way to perform a percussion beat to keep the group together. Because of this difficult audition process, a cappella groups formed contain some of the most talented singers.
The DFW area is going to be hosting an amazing a cappella group this coming weekend. On Sunday August 12 at 6:00pm, the all male group, Acappella, will be performing at the Grapevine Church of Christ. This group will be giving a free concert to all who want to listen to some exceptional and truly touching music. The address of the church is 525 N. Park Blvd, Grapevine, TX. Come and hear an amazing show and meet some amazing people you can make lasting friendships with.
A cappella groups are often present on different college campuses nationwide. At Texas A&M there were three different a cappella groups supported by the university. In order to be a part of these groups, students went through rigorous auditions in which they performed a popular song solo and also demonstrated their beat boxing skills. Beat boxing is necessary for all members of a cappella groups to know because without any instrumental assistance, beat boxing is the only way to perform a percussion beat to keep the group together. Because of this difficult audition process, a cappella groups formed contain some of the most talented singers.
The DFW area is going to be hosting an amazing a cappella group this coming weekend. On Sunday August 12 at 6:00pm, the all male group, Acappella, will be performing at the Grapevine Church of Christ. This group will be giving a free concert to all who want to listen to some exceptional and truly touching music. The address of the church is 525 N. Park Blvd, Grapevine, TX. Come and hear an amazing show and meet some amazing people you can make lasting friendships with.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Inspiring Olympic Stories
A week plus has passed since the 2012 London Olympics began, and a slew of dramatic activity has unfurled for all viewers worldwide. The emotions experienced and shown to the public range from true happiness and delight to utter disappointment and defeat. The athletes have competed to their best ability and stuck perfect vaults in front of astonished judges, beaten world records thought to be insurmountable, and carried on family tradition winning first place in a myriad of activities in the Olympics. Through all these great achievements there has been one athlete and one accomplishment that stuck out and touched me more than all others combined. This athlete overcame a lifetime of challenges and obstacles, fought public discontent and restrictions, and prevailed on the Olympic stage teaching everyone watching that you should never judge a person on the way the look.
The man I refer to is none other than Oscar Pistorius from South Africa. Pistorius is a 25 year old sprinter nicknamed "Blade Runner". This nickname was given due to the fact that Pistorius was born with underdeveloped legs and forced to grow up with two prosthetic legs. Born without a fibula in either of his legs, Pistorius underwent a double amputation before his first birthday. As his brother was learning to tie his shoe laces, Pistorius was learning how to put on his prosthetic legs. However, Pistorius never saw the physical difference he had as a disability. He began training and competing with able-bodied athletes in different sports and running events.
In 2004, Pistorius qualified and ran in the Athens Paralympic games. In the Men's 400 meter final, Pistorius got a late start, staying on the block for one or two seconds after the starting gun was fired. At realizing his mistake, Pistorius immediately started to catch up with the field, running around the curve of the track as fast as he could. In doing this, Pistorius not only caught up to the field, but won gold in this race and in two others. After his amazing showing in Athens, Pistorius earned his title "the fastest man on no legs" and went back to training with a new goal in mind.
In 2008, Pistorius qualified for the Beijing Olympics, but was ruled ineligible by track’s world governing body because his blades were deemed to give him a competitive advantage. The spring given to Pistorius by his prosthetic legs was thought to be giving him an extra burst of speed that was unequal to that possible from an able-bodied man. After hearing testimony from an MIT professor, who is himself a user of prosthetic legs, and providing multiple test results for comparison of prosthetic legs and average legs, the Court for Arbitration of Sport struck down the 2008 ruling. However, the ruling was overturned too late for Pistorius to compete in the Beijing games.
For that reason, Pistorius's showing in 2012 meant that much more. In the London 2012 Olympics, Pistorius would be the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied men in Track and Field events. In the qualifying rounds of the Men's 400 meter, Pistorius came in second, earning him a spot in the semifinal round of running. In the semifinals Pistorius was unable to get himself a spot in the final run, but he did something better. Pistorius showed viewers worldwide that a person is not, and should not, be defined by their physical limitations or disabilities because if a person dedicates enough time and effort, there are no limitations to what can be achieved.
As Kirani James, winner of Pistorius's semifinal heat, exchanged name cards with Pistorius after the race was over, a thought went through my head. In anyone's life, the only person standing between them and their ultimate goals and dreams, is the individual themselves. I know I have used my disability as a crutch at times. Whenever I do not perform as well as I know I could have, I always use my disability as an excuse. However, Pistorius showed me that there may be people that are better than you, but if you work hard enough and never let any challenge get you down, you can prevail at any challenge that comes your way. The Olympics was such an amazing accomplishment of Pistorius, but you or I could be the next inspiration if we try hard enough.
The man I refer to is none other than Oscar Pistorius from South Africa. Pistorius is a 25 year old sprinter nicknamed "Blade Runner". This nickname was given due to the fact that Pistorius was born with underdeveloped legs and forced to grow up with two prosthetic legs. Born without a fibula in either of his legs, Pistorius underwent a double amputation before his first birthday. As his brother was learning to tie his shoe laces, Pistorius was learning how to put on his prosthetic legs. However, Pistorius never saw the physical difference he had as a disability. He began training and competing with able-bodied athletes in different sports and running events.
In 2004, Pistorius qualified and ran in the Athens Paralympic games. In the Men's 400 meter final, Pistorius got a late start, staying on the block for one or two seconds after the starting gun was fired. At realizing his mistake, Pistorius immediately started to catch up with the field, running around the curve of the track as fast as he could. In doing this, Pistorius not only caught up to the field, but won gold in this race and in two others. After his amazing showing in Athens, Pistorius earned his title "the fastest man on no legs" and went back to training with a new goal in mind.
In 2008, Pistorius qualified for the Beijing Olympics, but was ruled ineligible by track’s world governing body because his blades were deemed to give him a competitive advantage. The spring given to Pistorius by his prosthetic legs was thought to be giving him an extra burst of speed that was unequal to that possible from an able-bodied man. After hearing testimony from an MIT professor, who is himself a user of prosthetic legs, and providing multiple test results for comparison of prosthetic legs and average legs, the Court for Arbitration of Sport struck down the 2008 ruling. However, the ruling was overturned too late for Pistorius to compete in the Beijing games.
For that reason, Pistorius's showing in 2012 meant that much more. In the London 2012 Olympics, Pistorius would be the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied men in Track and Field events. In the qualifying rounds of the Men's 400 meter, Pistorius came in second, earning him a spot in the semifinal round of running. In the semifinals Pistorius was unable to get himself a spot in the final run, but he did something better. Pistorius showed viewers worldwide that a person is not, and should not, be defined by their physical limitations or disabilities because if a person dedicates enough time and effort, there are no limitations to what can be achieved.
As Kirani James, winner of Pistorius's semifinal heat, exchanged name cards with Pistorius after the race was over, a thought went through my head. In anyone's life, the only person standing between them and their ultimate goals and dreams, is the individual themselves. I know I have used my disability as a crutch at times. Whenever I do not perform as well as I know I could have, I always use my disability as an excuse. However, Pistorius showed me that there may be people that are better than you, but if you work hard enough and never let any challenge get you down, you can prevail at any challenge that comes your way. The Olympics was such an amazing accomplishment of Pistorius, but you or I could be the next inspiration if we try hard enough.
Friday, August 3, 2012
All Around Accomplishments
In any competition, winning the gold is the ultimate goal for all the contestants. To have the chance to say that you are "the best" at something statewide, nationwide, or worldwide is what everyone strives for. This is definitely true at the Olympics, a competition where every nation in the world is present to compete for first place in a wide myriad of events. Gymnastics just recently named their best All-Around athletes for both men and women, and it was one of the most dramatic competitions of the Olympics.
For the men, America was looking to make its comeback from their disappointing performance in the team finals. They sent their two best competitors, Danell Leyva and John Orozco, to do battle against the best gymnasts from countries like China, Russia, Japan, and Ukraine. Hopes were high. Could a gold medal be yet in the future of the United States gymnastics team? Unfortunately on the first rotations the US men were already making monumental mistakes. Orozco was unable to finish the pommel horse without separating his feet and faltering with his hand placement. Leyva also made minor mistakes and was considered out of the running due to the unbelievable performance from the Japanese and German contestants. Then, when all was thought to be lost, Leyva performed an amazing high bar and floor routine yielding a bronze medal for the American athlete. Everyone was overcome with delight. I just hope that the American gymnasts can gather themselves for the individual routines and bring home some more medals.
The women's All-Around was filled with drama from the very beginning. The group filled with the leaders and medal hopefuls, including the two Americans and two Russians, began at the vault, the American's best event. The two American gymnasts, Gabby Douglass and Aly Raisman, performed two excellent vault routines putting them in the lead. However, as they moved onto events mastered by the Russians, a 1-2 finish seemed a little less likely. Raisman (US) and Aliya Mustafina (Russia) both faltered on balance beam. Mustafina fell off the beam and had continuous balance checks while Raisman had a huge balance check causing her to grab the beam with her hands. These two errors made the scores very tight going into the final round of floor.
At the final floor routine Douglass cemented her spot as gold medalist with a routine near perfection. The crowd involvement added to the Douglass smile gave her the score necessary to earn the gold. Raisman's floor routine was also good, good enough to tie with Mustafina for third. So why did she not win the bronze medal? Well, the International Federation of Gymnastics regulates that in the event of a tie in the All-Around competition, the judges discard each of the gymnast's lowest score and then add up the three remaining scores. This is done because in the All-Around competition the scores are made up of the gymnasts total scores in four events (vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor). So after the balance beam score for Mustafina and Raisman was discarded, Mustafina ended up with the higher score and the bronze medal.
I know this sucks. In my personal opinion, Raisman deserves a bronze medal too. She worked just as hard as Mustafina and put in a performance equal to that of Mustafina's. However, the rule book wins on this one occasion. And with the drama of the bronze medal resolved, Douglass still ends up taking home the gold and the title of best All-Around gymnast.
After this gymnastics competition, the United States also ends up with the most medals in the Olympics, beating China out by one. The United States must keep up their performance if they want to retain this position, however. Things can change as quickly as 0.001 of a second in the Olympics.
For the men, America was looking to make its comeback from their disappointing performance in the team finals. They sent their two best competitors, Danell Leyva and John Orozco, to do battle against the best gymnasts from countries like China, Russia, Japan, and Ukraine. Hopes were high. Could a gold medal be yet in the future of the United States gymnastics team? Unfortunately on the first rotations the US men were already making monumental mistakes. Orozco was unable to finish the pommel horse without separating his feet and faltering with his hand placement. Leyva also made minor mistakes and was considered out of the running due to the unbelievable performance from the Japanese and German contestants. Then, when all was thought to be lost, Leyva performed an amazing high bar and floor routine yielding a bronze medal for the American athlete. Everyone was overcome with delight. I just hope that the American gymnasts can gather themselves for the individual routines and bring home some more medals.
The women's All-Around was filled with drama from the very beginning. The group filled with the leaders and medal hopefuls, including the two Americans and two Russians, began at the vault, the American's best event. The two American gymnasts, Gabby Douglass and Aly Raisman, performed two excellent vault routines putting them in the lead. However, as they moved onto events mastered by the Russians, a 1-2 finish seemed a little less likely. Raisman (US) and Aliya Mustafina (Russia) both faltered on balance beam. Mustafina fell off the beam and had continuous balance checks while Raisman had a huge balance check causing her to grab the beam with her hands. These two errors made the scores very tight going into the final round of floor.
At the final floor routine Douglass cemented her spot as gold medalist with a routine near perfection. The crowd involvement added to the Douglass smile gave her the score necessary to earn the gold. Raisman's floor routine was also good, good enough to tie with Mustafina for third. So why did she not win the bronze medal? Well, the International Federation of Gymnastics regulates that in the event of a tie in the All-Around competition, the judges discard each of the gymnast's lowest score and then add up the three remaining scores. This is done because in the All-Around competition the scores are made up of the gymnasts total scores in four events (vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor). So after the balance beam score for Mustafina and Raisman was discarded, Mustafina ended up with the higher score and the bronze medal.
I know this sucks. In my personal opinion, Raisman deserves a bronze medal too. She worked just as hard as Mustafina and put in a performance equal to that of Mustafina's. However, the rule book wins on this one occasion. And with the drama of the bronze medal resolved, Douglass still ends up taking home the gold and the title of best All-Around gymnast.
After this gymnastics competition, the United States also ends up with the most medals in the Olympics, beating China out by one. The United States must keep up their performance if they want to retain this position, however. Things can change as quickly as 0.001 of a second in the Olympics.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Fab Five Wins Gold
During life everyone experiences achievements and disappointments. There are always ups and downs, but what is important is how you behave during the best and the worst times of your life. Well America has recently gone through some roller coaster times at the Olympics. Yet we survive on top of things.
First, we will start off with the gymnastics news. As you have probably already heard, the US Men's Gymnastics team did not perform to their utmost ability. After the qualifying round, it looked as if nothing stood in their way of finally getting gold in this event. However, the US gymnasts succumbed to the pressure of the event. Mistakes were made one right after the other. From floor to parallel bars, the men of the US gymnastics were not able to put their previous performances out of their minds. I think they kept thinking about their mistakes so much that repetition of the errors was inevitable. Yet, what made me more proud to call these men Americans is how the team was able to leave the stadium with their heads held high. They said that the team competition was not the end of the Olympics for them. Individual and All-around competition is yet to come, and the US men will be performing their hearts out so that they can come home with medals in hand. After seeing this I just wanted to give them all high fives.
As for the women, the Fab Five came into the stadium with the expectations of a nation on their shoulders. After the men were unable to come away from competition with medals around their necks, everyone was hoping that the 2012 US female gymnasts would win the first team gold in sixteen years. Thankfully, the women were able to open competition on their best feature, vault. The three vaults completed were the closest to perfection that I ever remember seeing. Stuck landings, pointed toes, legs together, and height that could not be topped set the American ladies on their journey to gold. With Russia following them, the US women's gymnastics team performed some of the best balance beam, floor, and uneven bars routines seen this season. With the final stuck landing of the last floor routine, only smiles were visible on the faces of the young American gymnasts. The first team to win gold in the Olympics since the 1996 US gymnastics team, will always be remembered as the team holding hands on the floor of the stadium in London, waving at the crowd as the final score came on screen backing up their achievement of first place.
In the swimming arena, Michael Phelps made history breaking the world record becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time. This, however, could not be completed without help from the 4x200m relay team Phelps swam with last night. For the first time, Phelps swam the anchor leg of this relay relying on his teammates to get a lead substantial enough to win the race. Additionally, Phelps was on this relay team with Ryan Lochte, his arch rival, showing that competitors can cooperate with each other in order to win a medal and represent a nation.
So after this day, the United States accumulates more medals and more world records. As the games progress the achievements of the Americans will become more numerous, but not without obstacles to overcome. I just know that all of the United States competitors will need tons of support from American spectators everywhere. So keep watching the games and cheering for your favorite athletes.
First, we will start off with the gymnastics news. As you have probably already heard, the US Men's Gymnastics team did not perform to their utmost ability. After the qualifying round, it looked as if nothing stood in their way of finally getting gold in this event. However, the US gymnasts succumbed to the pressure of the event. Mistakes were made one right after the other. From floor to parallel bars, the men of the US gymnastics were not able to put their previous performances out of their minds. I think they kept thinking about their mistakes so much that repetition of the errors was inevitable. Yet, what made me more proud to call these men Americans is how the team was able to leave the stadium with their heads held high. They said that the team competition was not the end of the Olympics for them. Individual and All-around competition is yet to come, and the US men will be performing their hearts out so that they can come home with medals in hand. After seeing this I just wanted to give them all high fives.
As for the women, the Fab Five came into the stadium with the expectations of a nation on their shoulders. After the men were unable to come away from competition with medals around their necks, everyone was hoping that the 2012 US female gymnasts would win the first team gold in sixteen years. Thankfully, the women were able to open competition on their best feature, vault. The three vaults completed were the closest to perfection that I ever remember seeing. Stuck landings, pointed toes, legs together, and height that could not be topped set the American ladies on their journey to gold. With Russia following them, the US women's gymnastics team performed some of the best balance beam, floor, and uneven bars routines seen this season. With the final stuck landing of the last floor routine, only smiles were visible on the faces of the young American gymnasts. The first team to win gold in the Olympics since the 1996 US gymnastics team, will always be remembered as the team holding hands on the floor of the stadium in London, waving at the crowd as the final score came on screen backing up their achievement of first place.
In the swimming arena, Michael Phelps made history breaking the world record becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time. This, however, could not be completed without help from the 4x200m relay team Phelps swam with last night. For the first time, Phelps swam the anchor leg of this relay relying on his teammates to get a lead substantial enough to win the race. Additionally, Phelps was on this relay team with Ryan Lochte, his arch rival, showing that competitors can cooperate with each other in order to win a medal and represent a nation.
So after this day, the United States accumulates more medals and more world records. As the games progress the achievements of the Americans will become more numerous, but not without obstacles to overcome. I just know that all of the United States competitors will need tons of support from American spectators everywhere. So keep watching the games and cheering for your favorite athletes.
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