Paralympics gets no respect....

Cdn_Brdr · #1 (**permalink**) Aug 24, 04

A couple days ago I watched the women's 800m wheelchair race and the Canadian woman who raced won a gold medal. She recieved her medal in a medal ceremony right before the high profile Mens 100m final.

It makes me sick that the major media hasn't even mentioned this at all... I haven't seen it in the news or in the papers. Apparently a medal in the paralympics doesn't even count in official medal counts.... even though it takes place at the same Olympic Games!

Personally I think its an insult to an athlete, whether they're in a wheelchair or not, to be completely dissed by the media and the public after such an accomplishment. The fact that this person didn't give up and still has the drive to be an athlete is an accomplishment in itself.

KenJi · #2 (**permalink**) Aug 24, 04

I know i read about the canadian woman in the papers, and how the medal she won doesn't even officially count in the medal standings.

i think a person who can wheelchair any kind of race should definetly be considered an olympian. Wheelchair or not, its not like its any easier using the wheelchair, if anything its way more difficult to go through life in everyway when your in a wheelchair.

I agree with ya on this, Paralympians do not get the respect they should get.

Belms · #3 (**permalink**) Aug 24, 04

yeah i saw that race she won. i this its extremelt unfair for their medals to not count. not to mention the fact their not allowed to walk with their respective country during the opening ceremonies.

dapimpstress · #4 (**permalink**) Aug 24, 04

sounds mad bunk yo... wtf... thats turbo lame....

KenJi · #5 (**permalink**) Aug 24, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belms

yeah i saw that race she won. i this its extremelt unfair for their medals to not count. not to mention the fact their not allowed to walk with their respective country during the opening ceremonies.

Wow that I didn't know, thats extremely unfair. Their there for the glory and being a part of something special too.

Their athletes and special atheltes at that to strive even after the loss of their lower half. Most would give up and just live a normal life, to go on and make a recovery.

Should be more than enough merrit to be considered an athlete.

Undecided · #6 (**permalink**) Aug 25, 04

Aren't the Olympic and Paralympics medal counts seperate?

DJDeeb · #7 (**permalink**) Aug 28, 04

The Para olympians were not even allowed to parade in to the stadium in te opening ceremonies?!

If its trully a separate games from the Olympics then they should have at least some footage in the media.