What I love about the Olympics

Natalie du Toit carried the flag for South Africa at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games. She wore a prosthetic leg, but few likely noticed. She has long awaited this moment, when she can stop being a disabled swimmer and start being just a swimmer again.

Wednesday, du Toit will participate in the Olympic marathon swim with no lower left leg or prosthetic assistance to help her kick through 6.2 miles of open water, competing as the first female amputee in an able-bodied Olympics.

South Africa’s du Toit fulfills a dream derailed - International Herald Tribune

Just an amazing story, and I know that makes me a sucker, but that can’t be a surprise to many of you. Even South African’s can do inspiring things. And this story just got me:

As Japan’s oldest Olympic competitor in history, Hiroshi Hoketsu says his long experience has taught him one key trait of a good rider: patience.

Hoketsu, who at the age of 67 will become Japan’s oldest Olympic representative when he rides in Thursday’s dressage qualifier, first competed in an Olympics 44 years ago at the 1964 Tokyo Games.

Training a horse requires first getting inside their minds, Hoketsu said.

“You have to understand them, rather than ask them to understand you. You need to understand what kind of situation they are in and what you can ask of them,” he said.

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