From the very best bits to what you’ve been talking about, we’ve got the Paralympic Games 2012 covered! Each day this week one of our brilliant Disability Horizons volunteers will be keeping you up to date on Twitter and Facebook as well as giving you a round-up of their highlights from the Paralympics, and today it’s the turn of Zubee.
Not only have the Paralympic Games been entertaining, tense and exciting to watch, but each event has really inspired me to take up a sport myself. I used to horse ride, but I’d now love to get into cycling and table tennis – watch out Butterworth and Bayley!
And if the Games have inspired me, I hope they too have inspired thousands of others. The Games go to show what disabled people are capable of achieving despite their impairments. I have so much admiration for every athlete taking part. It’s a tough competition, but they have done so well to even get this far, something it’s easy to forget when they don’t clinch a medal.
A quote from Ade Adepitan that I couldn’t agree with more: “When you see somebody like you on TV it can inspire you to do so much, to push yourself and know that you can achieve.”
So, in short, I am loving the Games, and I hope you are too! 🙂
My top 5 highlights
1. Swimming – silver for Sascha Kindred. Six-time GB Paralympian, Sascha Kindred won a silver medal in the men’s iM SM6 200m today with a personal best and European record. Sascha was notably disappointed not to get gold, but the level these athletes compete at is astonishing; it’s an achievement being strong enough to take part. Watch the clip of Sascha Kindred and you too will see the astounding standard these swimmers must meet.
2. Athletics – Mickey Bushell storms to gold. Racing in the T53 100m wheelchair sprint, Michey Bushell seemed miles ahead of the competition from the beginning. And, I have to say, he made it look so easy! Take a look for yourself at Mickey Bushell’s race.
3. Athletics – jumping to new heights. Concluding the men’s F42 High Jump competition today, where each athlete is an above-knee amputee, Ilisa Delana, from Fuji, won the gold easily clearing the 1.74m pole. It was incredible to watch these athletes, who using only one leg, were able to propel themselves over the height of the pole.
4. Equestrian – Lee Pearson riding back. Having ridden before myself (of course not at this level) it’s wonderful to watch the riders command the horses so effortlessly when it is, in fact, far from it! Lee Pearson won bronze today, very narrowly missing out on silver, with his percentage score at 74.2%, and the silver medallist, Katja Karjalainen, scoring 74.25%. You can see Lee Pearson ride on the Channel 4 website.
And the highlight taking gold is…
5. Swimming – Ellie Simmonds does it again. Ellie Simmonds smashed her own world record of 3:06.97 in a spectacular performance in the women’s iM SM6 200m. It was incredible to watch, especially her surprise and humility when she realised she had bettered herself. What a champion! Take a look at Ellie’s swim and interview for yourself.
Athlete in the spotlight
Ellie Simmonds (MBE), who became the youngest Briton to win a Paralympic medal at the age of 13, is an astounding athlete. She became the youngest winner of BBC’s young sports personality of the year in 2008, and was also the youngest person to receive an MBE at the age of 14.
Her achievements are remarkable, and, what adds to it, is her down-to-earth nature, despite the pressure on her to succeed. I have to say, I’m not sure I could cope with the enormity of having a poster of me covering an entire building, which can be seen from the Olympics Park!
Top tweets
Ronnie Joice – @ronniejoice
“Channel 4’s #Paralympics coverage might need to hire someone else a bit wiser to vet the comments being texted in. http://pic.twitter.com/p7FAZhKH
C4 Paralympics – @C4Paralympics
“Despite defeat, @ParalympicsGB‘s women’s wheelchair basketball team are through to the quarter finals against Germany.”
Sainsbury’s – @sainsburys
“We can’t wait to see EllieSimmonds1 compete today (…) #Extraordinary2012.”
Ben Goddard – @bgoddard19
“Got to say #thelastleg is such a good take on the paralympics great highlights and the funny clips are hilarious in great spirit #ch4″
Channel 4 News – @Channel4News
“Video: George Osborne is booed at the #Paralympics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqM0Ube0oLs&feature=plcp”
Images credited to Channel 4.
Are you watching?
We’ve heard that there’s not been great coverage in other countries. Make sure you don’t miss out on any of the action by checking out our Definitive Guide to the Paralympics.
By Zubee
We’re putting together a collection of articles with your pictures from Summer 2012. Whether at the Paralympic Games, enjoying some of the events around the UK, or participating in local sporting events, we’d love to hear from you.
And let us know more about Paralympic sports you are involved in – email us at editor@disabilityhorizons.com, tweet us @DHorizons or send us a message on Facebook. Share your experiences with our community for a monumental Summer 2012!
