Natalie, the first disabled Olympian

Iftu AhmedbrPIERRE de Fredy, the Baron de Coubertin (1863-1937), the founder of modern Olympic Games said, The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well. brNatalie du Toit, the South African swimmer and the first disabled Olympian fought very well in the Women's 10,000m open water swimming securing 16th place among 24 swimmers in the 2008 Games of the XXIX Olympiad which concluded in Beijing recently, though her left leg was amputated below the knee. The 10,000m open water swimming is also known as Marathon Swim. brNatalie, the 24-year old began to compete in the international swimming at the age of 14. She was best known for gold medals in swimming in the 2004 Paralympic Games and Commonwealth Games. On February, 2001, Natalie lost her left leg after a scooter accident on her way to school from swimming practice. brIn 2003, Natalie competed against able-bodied swimmers and won gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle in the All-African Games and silver in the 800-meter freestyle and bronze in the 400-meter freestyle in the Afro-Asian Games.brOn May 3, 2008, after finishing fourth in the 10,000m open water swim in the Open Water World Championships, held in Seville, Spain, Natalie, qualified for the 2008 Games of the XXIX Olympiad and carried her country's national flag at the Olympics opening ceremony. brNatalie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in genetics and physiology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She was voted 48th in the Top 100 Great South Africans. Natalie's achievement at the Beijing Olympics was more than a gold medal. The competition between able-bodied and disabled athletes is not new. Many disabled athletes around the globe competed with the able-bodied. In India, Anjan Bhattacharjee who was a deaf bowler, played a dozen Ranji Trophey matches in the early 1970s and was honoured with Arjuna Award, a prestigious sports award of that country for playing cricket with the able-bodied players. Besides, six other disabled athletes in India won the Arjuna Award in athletics, swimming and badminton for competing with able-bodied competitors. The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Bangladesh should evaluate qualified disabled athletes in the country, who are competing or have competed with able-bodied competitors. brThe writer of this article is an example in Bangladesh. brDespite deafness from his boyhood, he, now a Bangladesh-born US citizen played in the 2nd, 6th and 8th Bangladesh National Cricket Tournaments for Mymensingh District Team. Mymensingh District Team secured Runners-up position in the 6th National Cricket B Zone Championship. In 1981-82, he secured 9th place in cricket batting average for Lalmatia Cricket Club in the First Division Metropolis Cricket League of Dhaka. He also played cricket for Dhaka Wanderers Club, Town Club and Wari Club, and inter-college cricket for Ananda Mohan University College, Mymensingh.brIn athletics, he participated in the 1st Bangladesh National Athletics Competition for Mymensingh District Team in shot put and javelin throw. He was championed twice in the Annual Athletics Meet of Ananda Mohan University College, Mymensingh. He participated in the inter-school and inter-college athletics tournaments. brAhmed represented Mymensingh District Team in the First National Youth Football Championship of Bangladesh. He played for Mohammadan Sporting Club and Panditpara Athletic Club in the First Division Football League of Mymensingh District. During his academic years, Ahmed played inter-school football for Mymensingh Zilla School and inter-college football for Ananda Mohan University College. brEven though Ahmed did not participate in the Deaflympics (Deaf Olympic Games), Dr. Bobbie mentioned Ahmed as Deaflympican (Deaf Olympian) in her letter. brBesides these, Ahmed was champion in tennis, table tennis, volleyball and basketball at the hearing Impaired Sports Tournaments hosted by Northern Illinois University.brAcademically, Ahmed obtained B.A. Honours and M.A, in history from the University of Dhaka, and secured Second Class eleventh and Second Class first position respectively. No one obtained a First Class that year. In the United Stares, Ahmed obtained an Associate Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in data processing with a G.P.A. 3.37 on a scale of 4.0 and took training in America Sign Language. The Viswa Unnyayan Samsad of New Delhi, India honoured him with a honorary Ph.D, in Informal Higher Education (sports and games). brThe only son of the late Illias Uddin Ahmed (1926-1987), a sports legend of Bangladesh, the writer lives in the USA and can be reached at e-mail iftuahmed@sbcglobal.net)