Elite Athletes with a "Disability"

I just saw a 45 kg bloke bench press 196 kg. :eek:

196 kg! Weighing in at 45 kg!

On a multiple of body weight thats spectacular.

Time to drop the word Disabled I think.
These athletes are awe-inspiring. The athlete who did the bench press was in a wheel chair, I'd certainly consider him an Elite Athlete - but someone who can benchpress the end of my car up while I change the tyre is not going to be called disabled by me.

Frankly the so-called "Disabled" Athletes put on a better showand strike me as just as athletic as any other athlete.

Yeah, they did well, and great to watch. My only issue is determining who won. Its so arbitary. Does half an arm missing really equal a foot gone? Does mental retardation necessarily make you slower or faster than someone missing a bit of leg.

Nevertheless good on them, I think its a great programme.

I saw the other night in the pool when there was a freestyle race (actually they all swim australian crawl but anyway) the winner was a guy with most of one arm winning, even though he finished behind others in the same race, because it is all relative to your time compared to the world championship time in your class. They had 13 classes they were talking about.

It is a tricky thing to allow handicapped people to race when their handicaps are so different. MMM my handicap is I am a know it all git is there a race for me? How do I prove the level of my gitness?

Anyway SERIOUSLY the disabled guys are great. They one who was swimming with one arm could beat most people with two arms. They are heroes every last one of them.

There are of course difficulties creating a structure that allows fair competition as has been said but it all seems to work. Most importantly it gives people a chance to compete when they could not otherwise.

Studley

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Originally Posted by Clinton1

Frankly the so-called "Disabled" Athletes put on a better showand strike me as just as athletic as any other athlete.

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Couldn't agree more. Some of the performances at these Games have been awe-inspiring. I think it's a great idea to mix the EAD athletic program in with the able-bodied athletes because it gives them a big audience and the kind of recognition that they deserve.

On a related subject, did you see Scott Martin in the discus? Man, that was impressive. Here's this giant of a bloke we've been watching in the ads being trained by a ballet teacher and he's gone out there and beaten the bloke everyone had thought was going to win! Bloody marvellous!

Oh - and while I'm at it: why the hell don't the bloody media leave Jana Pittman alone? She is a wonderful, world-class athlete but every time they put a microphone anywhere near her, she babbles on like the 23-year old she is. Athletes aren't supposed to be intellectual giants. Why are we supposed to be interested in what they have to say? Let's just watch them compete. The bloody media know only too well that if they give the poor kid enough time, she'll say something daft but controversial so the buggers just make sure they give her plenty of opportunity. Mongrels!

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Originally Posted by Driver

she'll say something daft

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Eeee Col, I 'avent seen that is ages..

Al :p

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Originally Posted by ozwinner

Eeee Col, I 'avent seen that is ages..

Al :p

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Awright, ar kid! That means yer 'aven't been payin' attention!

Yep Driver is right about Scott Martin and Jana Pitman. Scott Martin is now a cult hero and people should get of Jana`s back, but for as long as i live i doubt their will be any greater Australian sporting moment than Kerry McCann`s marathon win. Having the lead change three or four times in the last 2k`s and then comming into the G with 85 thousand going balistic was truley a great Australian sporting moment that i doubt will ever be bettered:)

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Originally Posted by Driver

Awright, ar kid! That means yer 'aven't been payin' attention!

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Im too poor to pay attention.

Al :p

At the weightlifting today the stupid loudmouth commentator (Darryl someone) kept saying the c'mon the little guy when the dwarf was doing his benchpress.:eek: AND he kept repeating that the guy SUFFERED from dwarfism.:mad::mad: Now I know a couple of little people and the one thing they ALL say is they don't suffer from anything except fools. Dwarfism's not a disease its a genetic abnormality. The other commentator made a crack about not having to lift too far when talking about the weights. Cretins.:mad:
The only Nine commentator worth his pay is the pommy guy who does the cricket now.:cool:

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Originally Posted by Shedhand

At the weightlifting today the stupid loudmouth commentator (Darryl someone) kept saying the c'mon the little guy when the dwarf was doing his benchpress.:eek: AND he kept repeating that the guy SUFFERED from dwarfism.:mad::mad: Now I know a couple of little people and the one thing they ALL say is they don't suffer from anything except fools. Dwarfism's not a disease its a genetic abnormality. The other commentator made a crack about not having to lift too far when talking about the weights. Cretins.:mad:
The only Nine commentator worth his pay is the pommy guy who does the cricket now.:cool:

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I agree Shedhand.

Buzzer

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Originally Posted by Lignum

...for as long as i live i doubt their will be any greater Australian sporting moment than Kerry McCann`s marathon win. Having the lead change three or four times in the last 2k`s and then comming into the G with 85 thousand going balistic was truley a great Australian sporting moment that i doubt will ever be bettered:)
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Yep, was there and it was really something. Never been to the G before, but can imagine it full at an AFL grand final.

After listening to athletes handling interviews with various sucess, my vote would have to be diver Loudy Tourky. Was actually able to carry on a sensible conversation without using the words "Awwwsum, soooo happy" or any of the catch phrases the others use. Could have had something to do with the quality of the interviewer too. Also, she's the only athlete I've noticed who walks elegantly.

Alex how priveledged are you:D I would have loved to been their to soak it all up. My best moment at the G was the `95 second semi between Richmond and Essendon where 92 thousand went absoulutly crazy when the Tiges cams back from 31 points down at half time to win my two goals to put them in to the prelim. That was in the words of Bruce "Special"

And Shed why be so PC about it all. Of coarse he would mention the Dwarfism because its the EAD part of the comp. The little people you mention "do" have a disability and thats why they are in the EAD in the first place. Next thing all the PC`s out their will demand sports journos attend EAD sports PC speak before they are allowed to commentate on their sports. Its ok for everyone to call big Daz "Big fella" but get gets a cainin calling someone little guy. The people with so called disabilitys iv known over the years just want to be treated like everyone else and as long as its not derogatory like midget or whatever, the comments by Eastlake would not have offended the lifter in question. And the comments regarding not having to far to lift are entirly valid. Its all relative to the bar’s trajectory and velocity. A powerlifter with little legs and a much lower center of gravity has completly different biomechanics than a six footer with longer legs. The same aplies to benchin and the deadlift.

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Originally Posted by Shedhand

At the weightlifting today the stupid loudmouth commentator (Darryl someone) kept saying the c'mon the little guy when the dwarf was doing his benchpress.:eek: AND he kept repeating that the guy SUFFERED from dwarfism.:mad::mad: Now I know a couple of little people and the one thing they ALL say is they don't suffer from anything except fools. Dwarfism's not a disease its a genetic abnormality. The other commentator made a crack about not having to lift too far when talking about the weights. Cretins.:mad:
The only Nine commentator worth his pay is the pommy guy who does the cricket now.:cool:

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well sed

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Originally Posted by Lignum

Alex how priveledged are you:D I would have loved to been their to soak it all up. My best moment at the G was the `95 second semi between Richmond and Essendon where 92 thousand went absoulutly crazy when the Tiges cams back from 31 points down at half time to win my two goals to put them in to the prelim. That was in the words of Bruce "Special"

And Shed why be so PC about it all. Of coarse he would mention the Dwarfism because its the EAD part of the comp. The little people you mention "do" have a disability and thats why they are in the EAD in the first place. Next thing all the PC`s out their will demand sports journos attend EAD sports PC speak before they are allowed to commentate on their sports. Its ok for everyone to call big Daz "Big fella" but get gets a cainin calling someone little guy. The people with so called disabilitys iv known over the years just want to be treated like everyone else and as long as its not derogatory like midget or whatever, the comments by Eastlake would not have offended the lifter in question. And the comments regarding not having to far to lift are entirly valid. Its all relative to the bar’s trajectory and velocity. A powerlifter with little legs and a much lower center of gravity has completly different biomechanics than a six footer with longer legs. The same aplies to benchin and the deadlift.

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G'day Lignum. Did you hear and see the commentary? Eastlake and Lukin were disgraceful. I'm not PC at all. They were cracking jokes.

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Originally Posted by Shedhand

At the weightlifting today the stupid loudmouth commentator (Darryl someone) kept saying the c'mon the little guy when the dwarf was doing his benchpress.:eek: AND he kept repeating that the guy SUFFERED from dwarfism.:mad::mad: Now I know a couple of little people and the one thing they ALL say is they don't suffer from anything except fools. Dwarfism's not a disease its a genetic abnormality. The other commentator made a crack about not having to lift too far when talking about the weights. Cretins.:mad:
The only Nine commentator worth his pay is the pommy guy who does the cricket now.:cool:

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I was going to send you a greenie but the computer says noooo.

So youll have to suffer. :D

Al :p

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AND he kept repeating that the guy SUFFERED from dwarfism.

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I thought it was a bit strange.
You'd sure suffer if he got his hands on you. I reckon he could tie me into a knot and throw me across a room! :D

I wouldn't say he suffered from dwarfism in case he took offence to it, and frankly when he is lifting weight he is just an elite athlete to me.

Got a thoeory for all of u out there.

Worked in intellectuall disability for 12 years and the term "disability" gives me the right royal sh@@@. These folks are all "abled" just not the same as us so............


if we have to label them, then why not "dif-abled as they are simply differently abled than u or I


thus ends my sermon for the day;) and no replies on the spelling please

the ones who have the real disabilities in the disability field is usually the senior management

I reckon turbomouth Eastlake is the most disabled of the lot :mad:

Why do they have to employ that idiot? He's ruined one of the events I enjoy most :(

Richard

Miss 12 swanned in when Martin was collecting his gong, she said she thought he looked like Shrek:D :D :D
Does that count as a disability, liability or what?