The Sports activities Archives – The Paralympics: From Humble Beginnings to Current Day!

The unique Olympic Games had been held in Olympia, Greece in historic occasions as a tribute to Zeus. Each 4 years, athletes would come collectively to indicate their prowess. Nevertheless, the Video games got here to a halt roughly 1600 years in the past when Emperor Theodosius I put a cease to pagan ceremonies. Leap forward to 1896 and the Olympic Video games had been reborn in Athens, Greece. No disabled athletes participated at that time, however that every one modified in 1904. George Eyser, a person born in Germany and raised in America, competed in St. Louis on the Summer time Video games. He staked his declare to glory when he took six medals in gymnastics, unhindered by a man-made leg. Eyser opened the door for people with disabilities in athletic competitors.

The Paralympics: Yesterday and In the present day

The primary Paralympics had been held in 1948 in London. British athletes participated in archery on this occasion that was dubbed “the Wheelchair Video games.” The Paralympics had been organized by a German neurologist. Sir Ludwig Guttman had seen the ravages of struggle firsthand as he handled troopers affected by spinal wire accidents. Later, the Dutch turned concerned within the first worldwide video games for disabled people. The idea continued to evolve. The primary, official Paralympics befell in 1960, actually involving a number of athletes as 400 members joined collectively from 23 nations. All athletes had been wheelchair-bound. Eight years later, athletes with different varieties of disabilities had been welcomed to the Paralympics. In 1976, disabled athletes rose to the event within the first Paralympics Winter Video games in Sweden.

Varied athletes have made groundbreaking achievements within the Paralympics. In 1988, a Hungarian athlete turned the primary to win medals in each the Summer time Olympic Video games and the Paralympics. After being paralyzed in a bus accident, he fought his manner by means of restoration and continued to fence, proving his resilience within the face of adversity. In 2004, a lady named Jessica Long received three gold medals in swimming although each legs had been amputated. Well-known double amputee, Oscar Pistorius, took the gold in sprinting in 2008. As of 2012, over 4000 athletes from 164 competed within the London Paralympics, proving their capability to beat nice challenges.

Supply: Masters in Special Education

Associated Blogs:
Historical past of the Paralympics!
Olympic Greats: 6 Superb Paralympians To Encourage You!
Overcoming All Odds – 5 Inspirational Disabled Athletes!