my new hero

[Julie Billingsley]

wasn't everyone just blown away by this guy?
Yay for him getting to the Olympics!

[Laura_A]

It's people like this that make me feel like a total jerk for complaining about trivial things. Shame on me! He is truly inspirational!

[isaacsmom]

I totally agree Julie!!! My son and I have been watching his story throughout the summer. It just really impressed me when they do the story about his life and it says in it that his mom did not treat him any different than his brother -- when his brother wanted to climb a tree, she expected him to do it too! It is a true inspiration for so many people -- even for my son who is deaf. It helps to have people in the limelight that have some sort of disability - it can teach our kiddos soooo much!

[ayaandjudah]

It really says a lot about the strength of character. I admire him so much.

[marlathrall]

He is so awesome. My baby sister and I were both in awe of him when we watched the semifinals on Saturday morning.

[BrattyMeg]

I loved that the racer from Grenada asked him for his name bib...how inspirational!

[tanyiadeskins]

Originally Posted by Laura_A

It's people like this that make me feel like a total jerk for complaining about trivial things. Shame on me! He is truly inspirational!

absolutely THIS! Just wow!

[dana]

yes!! he is just wonderful - so inspirational and really just amazing!

[k23m]

I missed his races (hope to catch the last one), but I saw his story. VERY cool!

[pomi]

Originally Posted by FlirtatiousBrat

I loved that the racer from Grenada asked him for his name bib...how inspirational!

Me too. I cried.

[LJSDesigns]

So I think he is totally remarkable, but got into quite an arguement with the men in my office about him. They said, and I quote, "he has an unfair advantage with all that fancy equipment." I about fell out of my chair. Fancy equipment? Are you kidding me? They said it was like being the six million dollar man and that he didn't have any of the pressure on his body like a regular runner. Again, really? Can you imagine the pressure on his stumps? They also said before long the Olympics would be full of mechanically enhance athletes. Since you can't fix stupid, I just called them all a$$es and walked away.

[tsbegley]

Love him!

[BrattyMeg]

There was controversy that his "legs" provided him an advantage but really?? i mean seriously it was his lifelong dream to compete next to "normal" athletes and he made it to the semis..he still trained everyday for a 45 second race and that alone says something amazing about his character.

[Julie Billingsley]

Originally Posted by tx-nana-scraps

In his interview the other day he said he and a "runner with legs/feet" had a scientific test done that proved he did not have any advantage at all.

I also heard that. I understand the Olympic committee had him and his prosthetics tested to be sure they did not give him an advantage such as springiness.

I seriously tear up every time I think of Oscar. I'm so proud of him!

[AmberK]

I brought my boys in to watch his race. They were so impressed that he could run on "metal feet".

And yeah- he had such an unfair advantage that he came in LAST in his race. People are idiots.

[LJSDesigns]

They sure are Amber. Unfair advantage? Wow. Like I said you can't fix stupid, but you can admire greatness.

[SeattleSheri]

I thought it was really classy when one of the other runners exchanged name bibs with him immediately following their race in the semis.

[BrattyMeg]

Originally Posted by SeattleSheri

I thought it was really classy when one of the other runners exchanged name bibs with him immediately following their race in the semis.

same runner, Kirani James..won the event finals tonight. First gold medal EVER for his country (Grenada) Can't believe the class from this 19yr old! Going to be such an example for kids in Grenada to look up.

[KyRainbow]

Originally Posted by FlirtatiousBrat

same runner, Kirani James..won the event finals tonight. First gold medal EVER for his country (Grenada) Can't believe the class from this 19yr old! Going to be such an example for kids in Grenada to look up.

He made me cry when he exchanged bibs with Oscar, then cried again when he won tonight. Was so proud for him.

[koala1966]

My Dad was telling me this athlete's story - it's inspiring and I even caught his event on TV.

[carrie1977]

I watched him race and was just totally blown away.

[k23m]

Just saw a story run on CTV about the start of the parolympics and didnt realize that there have been other athletes that have competed in the Olympics in similar situations - a legally blind runner, a double amputee swimmer (maybe I remember this one), and an archer, and ping pong player...there are some amazing people in this world!