环球英语 — 198：Olympic Hopefuls

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Hello, I’m Joshua Leo.

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And I’m Ruby 1 Jones. Welcome to Spotlight 2. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

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The Olympic Games – Beijing, China. They are almost here! Competing at the Olympic Games is the dream of every sports person. It is a time when people from even the smallest countries can take part. It is a chance to show off amazing physical strength and skill. And it is a place where people can demonstrate 3 the main idea of the Olympic organization: “Faster, Higher, Stronger” – trying to reach the perfect physical performance. This will be more difficult for some people than for others. Today’s Spotlight is on one young man and one young woman who hope to achieve their Olympic dreams. But these two people have had to rise above extreme difficulty, even just to compete.

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Natalie du Toit and Oscar Pistorius are both from South Africa. They are both top sports people. Natalie is a swimmer. And Oscar is a runner. But they also share something else in common – they are both physically 4 disabled. Marina Santee and Ryan Geerstma tell us more:

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Natalie de Toit was a very gifted swimmer. But in 2001, she was involved in a road accident. A car hit her. And Natalie’s left leg was badly crushed 5. Doctors had to cut through her knee and remove the lower part of her leg. People thought that this would stop Natalie from swimming. But Natalie had other ideas. And, as soon as she could, she returned to the swimming pool. Since that time, Natalie has been swimming with part of her left leg missing 6. She does not use a false leg to help her. And she has managed to fight her way back up to the top level of competition – swimming against women who have two complete legs!

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Oscar Pistorius also has part of his left leg missing – and part of his right leg too! Oscar was born with some bones missing from his legs. This meant that his legs could not develop in the right way. Doctors advised his parents that removing the lower parts of his legs would help the other leg bones to grow. Oscar was only one year old when doctors operated on him. And since that time, he has used false legs for walking and playing sport. You may have heard more of Oscar’s story in a previous Spotlight programme called, “Bladerunner”.

Oscar has always loved playing sport. When he was younger, he dreamed of playing rugby for a top South African team. But a knee injury suddenly ended those hopes. It was then that he started to run. He used a special kind false running leg called a blade 7. And soon, people saw that Oscar had the natural ability to be a great runner. He beat other runners with the same physical condition as himself. And, he even managed to beat runners with whole, healthy legs.

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Both Natalie and Oscar dream of being the best in the world at their sport. And for them, this means competing against the best swimmers and runners. This summer, Natalie and Oscar will compete in the Paralympic Games. These games are for disabled sports people. And they take place three weeks after the Olympic Games. Both Natalie and Oscar expect to win their races at the Paralympics. However, they want more. Natalie and Oscar also want to compete against able–bodied sports people! And both have asked the world sporting authorities 8 to permit them to compete in the Olympics as well.

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There is good news for Natalie! Her Olympic dream is about to come true! She does not use any aids to help her swim. So, the authorities permitted her to try and reach the level needed to compete in the Olympics. Natalie managed to achieve this level at a competition in May! So, she will now take part in the ten kilometre open water race – one of the hardest swimming events ever.

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However, Oscar’s road to the Olympics has more barriers. Why? Well, it is because of his false legs – his running blades 9. Many people thought that they gave Oscar an unfair advantage – that they helped him run faster. So, in November 2007, the sporting authorities asked a scientist to examine Oscar’s blades. Doctor Peter Brueggemann performed many tests. And, he decided 10 that Oscar’s blades returned energy to his upper legs with more effect than a normal ankle joint 11. This meant that Oscar used less energy than other runners. The authorities then banned Oscar from competing against able–bodied runners.

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But Oscar was not prepared to give up his dream. In May 2008, he appealed to the Court of Arbitration 12 for Sport – the highest authority 13 in the sporting world. There, experts in the science of body movement presented evidence to support Oscar’s case. They argued that Doctor Brueggemann did not consider how the blades affected 14 the whole of Oscar’s body when he moved. If he had, he would have discovered that they gave no real advantage to Oscar at all. The Court of Arbitration agreed. Oscar’s road to the Olympics was now much clearer!

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At the time we are making this programme, one more barrier stands between Oscar and his Olympic dream. He has to reach the target qualifying 15 time. Up to this point, Oscar has not run a fast enough time to gain him entry into the four hundred metre race. However, Oscar still has time to prove himself. If he fails, Oscar may still be included in the South African relay 16 team. This is a team race. So the relay runners do not need to achieve the individual target time. But Oscar is still hopeful of gaining an individual place.

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Public opinion is still divided about Natalie and Oscar taking part in the Olympic Games. Some people believe that it decreases the value of the Paralympics. And, they ask why Natalie and Oscar are not happy just to be the best Paralympic athletes. Other people welcome this development. They believe it shows that physical difference does not matter. And that if you can legally reach the top level, then you deserve 17 a chance to compete.

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However, most people agree on one thing – that Natalie and Oscar are two very brave young people. And that their bravery will encourage other people like them to push through difficult barriers in their own lives.