The biennial Olympic Games stir up tremendous
hype and feelings of patriotism among people worldwide. Even those who don’t regularly follow sports
will make an exception for the ever so popular Olympics. Enthusiasm about the Olympics is especially
elevated in the United States, where we can cheer on big names like Michael
Phelps and Simone Biles, and feel pride in our country when they succeed. When the Olympics draw to a close, the star
athletes go home proudly to their countries, which shower them with endless praise
and loving support. Soon, they are
mostly forgotten and people go about their business as usual for the next two
years. But what most of the world
doesn’t know – or doesn’t care to know – is that a different international
competition takes place only a few short weeks after the Olympics: the
Paralympic Games.
The Paralympic Games features many
of the same events as the Olympic Games, and involves athletes with a wide
range of disabilities, including impaired muscle power, amputated limbs, and
blindness. The 2016 Rio Paralympic Games
is scheduled to take place from September 7 to September 18.
The picture I chose is a photo of
Matt Stutzman, an American Paralympic athlete who won silver in the men’s
individual compound (archery) at the London Paralympics. In the picture, Stutzman, whose lacks a right
arm, holds the bow steady using his right foot and prepares to launch the
arrow, which he holds with his right shoulder and mouth. His eyes are intensely focused in concentration,
and his lip is contorted in order to position the arrow correctly.
In words, I cannot begin to
describe the kind of dedication and perseverance it must have taken for
Stutzman to win that silver medal.
Archery requires incredible strength and balance, and being able to
achieve such a high level of accuracy while lacking something essential to most
archers – an arm – is absolutely astonishing. Despite his disability, Stutzman won
that silver medal. And despite the fact
that he will return to the United States largely unrecognized – while Phelps
and Biles are household names – all it takes is that one picture to express the
unbelievable effort and ambition it took to make his dream come true.
Hi Michelle! I completely agree that the Olympics foster an environment of camaraderie and friendly competition throughout the world, resulting in a large, global following of the games. The Paralympics is especially unique because it allows those who are physically disabled to share their talent and all that they have overcome with the world, while it also symbolizes determination. This picture that you chose is very powerful, and I agree that it is important to publicize the perseverance and strength of the athletes who succeed in their specific sport. It is very interesting how only some athletes are properly recognized for their efforts and success, showing how the incompleteness of the single story can ultimately affect how an athlete is appreciated for their abilities.
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