Mobility Friends Together

The Paralympic Games ended yesterday, the 18th of September, and a very powerful closing ceremony marked the ending of an event that was very important. The ceremony symbolized both the accomplishments of the athletes, but also hopes for the future. Athletes from China brought home the most medals. Great Britain was second place in the medal counts, with the United States close at their heels.

China won over 200 medals this year. Their athletes received 89 Gold Medals, 70 Silver Medals, and 52 Bronze Medals. Great Britain brought home 102 Medals this year, among them 42 Gold Medals.

The United States was a very close third and received 99 Medals. The U.S. Team brought 42 Gold Medals, 35 Silver Medals, and 28 Bronze Medals back with them. The United States Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby Team, and Goalball team made an impressive stand and won the Gold. The U.S. Team was also very successful in the swimming events, athletic events, and cycling.

Athletes from around 70 different countries participated in this years games and they all deserve our respect. The medals are nice and represent a very big accomplishment, but the Paralympics are about much more than just winning the Gold. All of the athletes who participated in the games showed a strong sense of character and perseverance.

The Paralympics are in full swing and athletes from around the world have joined together to compete with one-another. There are still five days left in the tournament and many different countries have been collecting Gold Medals. Among them the top three are China, Great Britain, and the United States.

So far China has a big lead in the medal counts. They have a total of 109 medals including 37 gold ones. Great Britain is close behind in the gold count, with 33 gold medals and 69 total. The United States has 69 total medals including 23 gold medals and 16 silver ones.

China has been quite successful in most of the events, but they have earned most of their medals in the Athletics discipline, which includes discus throw, javelin throw, long jump, and other field and track events. They have also been quite successful in the table tennis events, where the men have taken 2 gold medals and the women 4.

From the United States, Cycling has been a very successful event, with Barbara Buchan, Karissa Whitsell, and Mackenzie, Woodring all taking gold medals in women cycling events.

The United States has also been very successful in the swimming events with Jessica Long taking 6 medals, including 4 gold ones. Jessica Long is 16 years old and was originally born in Russia, but was adopted by a family in Maryland when she was around 1 year old. Her lower legs were amputated when she was eighteen months old, but she rarely let this slow her down.

Always athletic, she began swimming and entered into her first competition in 2002. She competed in the 2004 Paralympics, when she was only twelve, and won 3 gold medals.

We salute all the members of the United States Team and all the other great athletes that are giving it their all and showing the world how strong they are.

The Paralympics are set to begin next week and many athletes from all over the World are heading to Beijing for the games. Among them is a tennis star named Gordon Reid, who is 16 years old.

Reid has been playing tennis since he was 6 years old. He continued to be very active in sports, including football, until just prior to his 13th birthday he was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, which is a neurological condition that affects the spinal cord.

After his diagnosis and subsequent paralysis, Reid did not give up. The tennis club he belongs to started a fundraiser to buy him a wheelchair that was configured for wheelchair tennis. The club, Helensburgh Tennis Club, was able to raise these funds in only a short time and used them to buy a wheelchair for another athlete as well.

Only six months after being diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, Reid won his first wheelchair tennis tournament and since he has rose through the ranks. Last year Reid one the National Men’s Singles champion and at 15 became the youngest athlete to claim this honor. That same year Reid also won the International Wheelchair Tennis Junior Masters.

Currently Reid is ranked at 36th in the world’s single ranking and is set to be the youngest member to ever represent Great Britain in the Paralympics.

There are many great athletes that are mobility challenged and are probably in better shape than the author of this blog. Wheelchair basketball has probably received the most attention, but there are a great number of other sports that people in wheelchairs and those that are mobility challenged participate in. Water sports are very popular and it is not only those who are not able to walk that enjoy them. Blind Waterskiing is very popular and there are many strong and brave athletes around the world that participate in it.

One man, Gerald Price, is well known in the blind waterskiing circle and in 2004 set a world speed record for blind waterskiing. This achievement alone is very impressive, but Price was 70 years old when he set this record and is still very active today. Last month, in protest to a recent ban on motor boats at England’s largest lake, Price skied around the lake at speeds of up to 28 miles per hour.

Price stated that he did not do it to break the law, but to raise awareness to what he feels are draconian laws. He said that he felt robbed of his enjoyment by the ban that does not allow boats to travel more than 10 miles per hour while on the lake.

At 74 years old, Gerald Price is still very active in the blind skiing community and is a very strong and brave athlete. He is joined by many others who have overcome their disability and use sports as a way of freeing their mind and their body.

The National Veterans Wheelchair Games concluded last week. More than 500 athletes participated in the event this year, which was held in Omaha Nebraska. This marks the end of the 28^th event.

These great athletes joined together to compete and while there was a strong sense of competition, there was also a strong sense of brotherhood amongst the many athletes. Among the many different events that were held this year were wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair softball, quad rugby, power soccer, and many other fun events.

Many of the people competing had never competed at a wheelchair sporting event before and the games go a long way towards helping their physical health as well as their mental health.

One veteran, who was wounded while fighting in Afghanistan, found that he was able to enjoy many of the same things he enjoyed before he was wounded. The veteran, Tyler Wilson, was amazed at how close everyone who competes is. Those who have been to the games before are quick to help the new comers and create an excellent environment.

Tyler, who competed in bowling, air guns, archery, trapshooting, and nine-ball events, left the competition with one gold medal, a silver metal, and two bronze medals. He is very excited about next years games and sees this as a very positive type of rehabilitation.

There were no losers at this years Games and all of the athletes that competed should be commended for their bravery both on the field and off.

The 28^th National Veterans Wheelchair Games are set to begin this weekend in Omaha, Nebraska. This is the largest annual wheelchair sporting event in the world and more than 500 athletes have entered.

It is taking place at the University of Nebraska in Omaha and helps to improve the quality of life for disabled veterans. It can greatly improve the confidence and health of those who enter and often around a quarter of the attendees have never participated in any type of wheelchair sport competition before.

Lasted 4 days from July 25^th to July 29^th, this event is presented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Sports are an excellent type of therapy for those who are mobility challenged and can be used to help with many types of disability. There are over 15 different sporting events taking place at the Wheelchair Games. This includes swimming, table tennis, weightlifting, basketball, bowling, and even a motorized wheelchair rally.

To find out more visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website.