Despite the serious illness, they achieved success. Kuznetsov Alexey Viktorovich
I thank God for my injuries
who helped me find myself,
your work and your God.
H. Keller (deaf-blind writer)
Our conversation about dreams is coming to an end, and in the final article of this cycle I would like to say a few words about those for whom physical limitations did not become an obstacle to fulfilling their dreams, about famous people with disabilities and people with disabilities who have achieved success. It was much more difficult for them to realize their dreams than for most of us, because the obstacle was various kinds physical disabilities, congenital or acquired.
But this did not stop them from realizing what they dreamed of; on the contrary, this is what prompted them to act against all odds in order to prove to themselves and the world that they, too, can live a full life. And they can serve as an even more striking example for us, for those who do not have these limitations.
The story of the first blind pilot
One such example of disabled people who have rightfully achieved success is Miles Hilton-Barber, the world's first blind pilot.
His difficult path to his dream, in my opinion, is a vivid illustration of how sometimes it is necessary to break vicious circle from limited ideas that hold back our inner forces, preventing them from breaking through and creating their reality. Miles Hilton-Barber was born into a pilot's family (1948, Zimbabwe), and when he grew up, he decided to follow in his father's footsteps.
He's trying to get into flight school, however, does not pass the medical examination for vision. And three years later he is told the terrible news that, due to a genetic predisposition, he will soon go blind. And so it happened - by the age of thirty, Miles completely lost his sight.
Start with a dream
It’s even difficult to imagine what was going on in his soul at the same time - a man in the full prime of his life found himself cut off from full life, and the path to his dream, as it seemed to him then, was forever closed.
Miles moved to England, where he worked at the Royal National Institute for the Blind. Recalling that time, he admits that he was “afraid to walk four hundred meters to the nearest supermarket for a loaf of bread.”
The example of his younger brother Jeff forced him to radically reconsider his approach to life. He is also blind, however, this did not stop him on the way to achieving his goals, and he alone managed to sail on a yacht from Africa to Australia.
It was Jeff who managed to instill in Miles the idea that that if you want to succeed in life, you don’t have to start with the fact that you are blind, start with what you want to do most in life. From your dreams.
Incredible achievements of blind people
Thus, Miles, who by that time was already fifty years old, returned to his youthful dream of becoming a pilot. When he tried to get training, he was first told: “How can you? After all, you’re blind!” to which he replied : "So what? All pilots civil aviation They teach you to fly blind, but I’m already blind! Already fit for the profession!
Since then, Miles began new life. He began to participate in sports adventures that not every healthy person would dare to undertake, let alone blind people, such as marathons, running, rock climbing and flying in small airplanes. He has a lot of achievements to his credit, for example, a marathon across the Sahara, conquering Mount Kilimanjaro, marathons in China and Siberia and much more.
In 2003, he became the first blind pilot to fly across the English Channel in a light aircraft. And to yours personal example he inspires many people around the world, encouraging them to do what they dream of and not let circumstances hold them back.
How to live life to the fullest despite physical limitations?
The lesson of this amazing story, in my opinion, is, first of all, that when you really want something, you shouldn’t sit and wait for circumstances to change better side, but you just need to go and act.
After all, as Miles himself admitted, he used to think that if only God or medical technology if they cured him of his blindness, then he would have dreams again, and he would begin to truly live.
However, he could have waited his whole life for this, but fortunately he did not do this. And this - good example for those who believe that they can achieve something when, for example, the economic situation or anything else in the outside world changes for the better.
But, as you know, water will not leak under a lying stone, and as Miles himself admits, “with that attitude I would still be sitting at home like a sofa vegetable.” You always need to start with yourself, because when we ourselves change, the world around us changes.
« If you want to achieve something in life, start with your dreams, not with your circumstances. When you're in last time Did you do something for the first time in your life? This was the last time you grew as a person... Life is not measured by the number of inhalations and exhalations, but by the events that capture our spirit. Don’t be afraid to go where your breath will be taken!” M. Hilton-Barber.
And these words, of course, are relevant not only for those who suffer from any physical injuries, but also for any of us.
Accept the challenge of fate
In the life of any of us, it often happens that on the way to a cherished dream there are obstacles that seem insurmountable, and you suddenly involuntarily begin to think that no, I will never achieve this. However, if your desire is truly strong, then such obstacles can be perceived as some kind of challenge from fate, a kind of test, like some higher power they check whether you really want what you are striving for.
“At the core of every difficulty lies an opportunity”- Albert Einstein once said. In this regard, I would like to recall one more story, which can also serve as a striking example of that even physical injury is not an obstacle to your dream, and that you should never be afraid to do something that no one has done before.
Blind doctor
David W. Hartman went blind when he was eight years old. He had a dream of becoming a doctor, but Faculty of Medicine Temple University told him that there was not a single blind person among its graduates.
This did not stop David, he courageously accepted the challenge of fate and began to study from audio recordings, and he had recordings of twenty-five medical textbooks. And so, at the age of twenty-seven, David became the first blind medical graduate.
Such examples, of course, make us remember the strength of spirit that is inherent in each of us, which is capable of overcoming any difficulties and finding a way out of seemingly dead-end situations.
After all, when before your eyes is an example of someone who, suffering from some kind of physical injury, still managed to achieve his goal, then you involuntarily feel that you can do everything, because, unlike him, you have no restrictions, and you healthy and capable of doing absolutely anything you want.
Artist without hands
In this regard, another striking example comes to mind - the Colombian artist Zuly Sanguino. Her paintings are very talented, filled with light and life, and carry such a flow of positive energy that, looking at them, you don’t think at all that their creator is suffering congenital pathology(her limbs are underdeveloped, in fact, there are no arms or legs, and she draws with her brush clenched in her teeth).
The life story of this girl, a disabled artist, is another one of bright examples Togo, that our spirit is stronger than any injury, and even if the illness is insurmountable, it cannot be an obstacle to the fulfillment of our cherished dreams.
But before Zuly became what it is today, it faced many challenges. The girl was born with a diagnosis of phocomelia, and seemed doomed to be bedridden for the rest of her life. However, her mother did not want to put up with this and made incredible efforts to teach her daughter to sit and even walk on her own.
The family lived in poverty, their home was an ordinary hut with an earthen floor, but mother and daughter persistently pursued their goal. There was another problem they faced - aggression from their father, who did not disdain insults and often raised his hand against his wife and children.
In the end, he committed suicide, which was the cause of the girl’s many years of depression; it seemed that she would never want to take care of her own body.
Can people with disabilities succeed?
The mother had to put a lot of effort into restoring her daughter’s joy in life. She taught Zuly to write and draw, and the girl gradually realized her purpose and found a purpose in life.
At the age of fifteen, she realized that she wanted to devote herself to drawing, that it was worth living for, and she made enormous efforts to master the basics of painting. The girl gained the ability to embody her world on paper through blood and sweat, but since then she began a new, bright streak. After all, she realized her purpose - to give people light and joy through her painting .
But when you strive to bring joy to someone, your own suffering fades into the background, and you see and feel, first of all, the beautiful - in yourself and in the world around you.
Now Zuly is 24 years old, and she has learned to do almost everything on her own: she dresses herself, applies makeup, mops the floors and, of course, draws.
In addition, she takes an active part in environmental initiatives: together with her brothers and sisters, she regularly collects garbage in her neighborhood, in her free time she helps her mother with her younger children or babysits neighbor kids.
Moreover, she gives motivational lectures in private companies, schools and even prisons. Of course, she, unlike most of us, has to overcome herself every day, faced with her own physical limitations, and what for us is simple action, for her is a small feat, but her example makes it all the clearer that when we show fortitude, we are able to overcome anything.
“The human spirit cannot be paralyzed. You breathe, which means you can dream.” M. Brown
The most famous and talented disabled people in history
And you can give many more examples famous people who accepted the challenge of fate and achieved amazing success, while having disabilities and other deviations from a healthy physical body.
John Milton, the famous poet and writer, was blind.
Itzhak Perlman, famous world-class violinist, is paralyzed lower half bodies.
James Thurber, cartoonist and humorist, had very poor eyesight.
Heather Whiston, Miss America 94, is deaf.
Rafer Johnson, decathlon champion, was born with a crippled foot.
Eduard Golderness, a Russian poet and translator who lived in Georgia, was terminally ill from the age of fifteen. But at the same time, as his beloved woman recalls:
“I have never seen a more heroic, restless fate around me. The point is not only that he was a poet, wrote sonnets, translated - he carried out “the connection between man and man,” he created new higher forms of human communication, he ennobled those who lived next to him.”
And this list could go on. After all, the main thing that unites all these people is the strength and fortitude of spirit, the ability not to resign themselves to circumstances, to live and create, embodying their cherished desires.
Live sincerely and you will achieve everything despite limitations.
“Fate is not given to a person from the outside, but matures every day in his heart,”- said the famous Buddhist philosopher Daisaku Ikeda. In other words, each of us creates our own destiny every day, carefully growing it, like a sprout from a seed. After all, what you put into yourself eventually grows.
And the examples of those we talked about can be a clear confirmation of this idea - that each of us, ultimately, is the creator of our own destiny, and there is a way out of any, even the most dead-end situation, when you know what to do strive.
These are the people with disabilities who became disabled from birth or as a result of accidents, and teach us to appreciate more what we have and to reveal the possibilities God has given us.
After all, as the Russian woman Vera Kotelyanets, who was born without arms and learned to do everything with the help of her legs, says: “When I hear that someone is complaining about life, I think: “I would like your hands, I would turn the world upside down with them!”
There is nothing to add to this, as they say. Stop complaining that you don’t have enough money or good contacts, because if you start living sincerely, improving yourself and every day taking at least a small step towards your destiny and what you love most (your dream), then soon your happiness will and there will be no barriers left for you, and you will be able to achieve whatever you want, despite any physical or material limitations, which is what I wish for you.
Some people actually believe that disabilities impose certain limitations on those who have them. But is this really so? This post will tell about those who did not give up, overcame difficulties and won!
Helen Adams Keller
She became the first deaf and blind woman to earn a college degree.
Stevie Wonder
One of the most famous singers and musicians of our time, Stevie Wonder suffered from blindness from birth.
Lenin Moreno
Vice President of Ecuador from 2007 to 2013, Lenin Moreno, moved in a wheelchair, since both legs were paralyzed after the assassination attempt.
Marlee Matlin
With her role in Children of a Lesser God, Marley became the first and only deaf actress to win an Oscar for Best Actress.
Ralph Brown
Ralf, born with muscle wasting, became the founder of Braun Corporation, a leading manufacturer of cars equipped for people with disabilities. It was this company that, as a result of its work, created a minivan that is fully adapted for people with disabilities.
Frida Kahlo
One of the most famous Mexican artists of the 20th century, Frida was in an accident when she was still a teenager and severely injured her back. She never fully recovered. Also, as a child, she contracted polio, which left her leg deformed. Despite all this, she managed to achieve amazing success in the fine arts: some of her most famous works became self-portraits in a wheelchair.
Sudha Chandran
Famous Indian dancer and actress, Sudha lost her leg, which was amputated in 1981 as a result of car accident.
John Hockenberry
Becoming a journalist for NBC in the 1990s, John was one of the first journalists to appear on television in a wheelchair. At the age of 19, he injured his spine in a car accident and since then has been forced to move only in a wheelchair.
Stephen William Hawking
Despite the diagnosis - lateral amyotrophic sclerosis, diagnosed at age 21, Stephen Hawking is one of the world's leading physicists today.
Bethany Hamilton
Bethany lost her arm in a shark attack in Hawaii at the age of 13. But this didn’t stop her, and she was back on the board after 3 weeks. The story of Bethany Hamilton formed the basis of the film "Soul Surfer".
Marla Runyan
Marla is an American runner and the first blind athlete to officially compete in the Olympic Games.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Despite the fact that from the age of 26 Beethoven began to gradually lose his hearing, he continued to write amazingly beautiful music. And most of his most famous works were created when he was already completely deaf.
Christopher Reeve
The most famous Superman of all time, Christopher Reeve was left completely paralyzed in 1995 after being thrown from a horse. Despite this, he continued his career - he was engaged in directing. In 2002, Christopher died while working on the cartoon "Winner".
John Forbes Nash
John Nash, famous American mathematician, laureate Nobel Prize in economics, whose biography formed the basis of the film “A Beautiful Mind,” suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.
Vincent van Gogh
It is impossible to say with complete certainty what kind of disease Van Gogh suffered from, but it is known for certain that during his life he was admitted to psychiatric hospitals more than once.
Christy Brown
An Irish artist and writer, Christie was diagnosed with cerebral palsy - he could write, type and draw with only one leg.
Jean-Dominique Bauby
The famous French journalist Jean-Dominique suffered a heart attack in 1995 at the age of 43. After 20 days in a coma, he woke up and found that he could only blink his left eye. Doctors diagnosed him with locked-in syndrome, a disorder in which a person's body is paralyzed and mental activity completely preserved. He died 2 years later, but during the time he was in a coma, he managed to dictate an entire book, blinking only his left eye.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein is rightfully considered one of the greatest minds in human history. Even though he had serious problems with the assimilation of information and did not even speak until he was 3 years old.
John Milton
The English writer and poet became completely blind at the age of 43, but this did not stop him, and he created one of his most famous works, Paradise Lost.
Horatio Nelson
British Royal Navy officer, Lord Nelson is known as one of the most outstanding military leaders of its time. Despite the fact that he lost both arms and an eye in one of the battles, he continued to achieve victories until his death in 1805.
Tanny Gray-Thompson
Born with spina bifida, Tunney achieved worldwide fame as a successful wheelchair racing competitor.
Francisco Goya
The famous Spanish artist lost his hearing at the age of 46, but continued to do his favorite thing and created works that largely defined the fine art of the 19th century.
Sarah Bernhardt
The French actress lost both legs as a result of amputation following a knee injury, but did not stop performing and working in the theater until her death. Today she is considered one of the most significant actresses in the history of French theatrical art.
Franklin Roosevelt
The President of the United States of America, who led the country during World War II, early childhood suffered from polio and as a result was forced to use a wheelchair. In public, however, he was never seen wearing it, he always appeared supported on both sides, since he could not walk on his own.
Nick Vujicic
Born without arms or legs, Nick grew up in Australia and, despite all the obstacles, learned things like skateboarding and even surfing. Today he travels the world and speaks to large audiences with motivational sermons.
Nine world famous people with disabilities December 3rd, 2013
December 3 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. There are many examples of people with disabilities not only surviving, but becoming famous. We have made a selection of several disabled people who have become world famous.
1. Nobel Prize winner Stephen William Hawking studies the fundamental laws that govern the Universe. He is the owner of twelve honorary academic titles. His books A Multiple History of Time and Black Holes, the Young Universe and Other Essays became bestsellers. With all this, at the age of 20, Hawking was almost completely paralyzed due to the development of an incurable form of atrophying sclerosis and remains in this condition for the rest of his life. Only the fingers of his right hand move, with which he controls his moving chair and a special computer that speaks for him.
Nobel Prize winner Stephen William Hawking studies the fundamental laws that govern the Universe
2. Ludwig van Beethoven- German composer, representative of the Viennese classical school. In 1796, already a famous composer, Beethoven began to lose his hearing: he developed tinitis, an inflammation of the inner ear. By 1802, Beethoven was completely deaf, but it was from this time that the composer created his most famous works. In 1803-1804 Beethoven wrote the “Eroica Symphony”, in 1803-1805 - the opera “Fidelio”. In addition, at this time Beethoven wrote piano sonatas from “Twenty-eighth” to the last - “Thirty-second”, two cello sonatas, quartets, and the vocal cycle “To a Distant Beloved”. Being completely deaf, Beethoven created two of his most monumental works - “Solemn Mass” and “Ninth Symphony with Chorus” (1824).
Ludwig van Beethoven - German composer, representative of the Viennese classical school
3. Pilot Alexey Maresyev, based on whose story “The Tale of a Real Man” was written, he was very active all his life and fought for the rights of people with disabilities. He is one of the few who passed a medical examination after amputation and began to fly with prosthetics. After the war, Maresyev traveled a lot and became an honorary citizen of many cities. He became living proof that circumstances can be overcome.
Pilot Alexey Maresyev, based on whose story “The Tale of a Real Man” was written, was very active all his life and fought for the rights of people with disabilities
4. Franklin Delano Roosevelt- 32nd President of the United States - was also disabled. In 1921, Roosevelt became seriously ill with polio. Despite years of efforts to overcome the disease, Roosevelt remained paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. Some of the most significant pages in history are associated with his name foreign policy and US diplomacy, in particular, the establishment and normalization of diplomatic relations with Soviet Union and US participation in the anti-Hitler coalition.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt - 32nd President of the United States
5. Ray Charles famous American blind musician, author of more than 70 studio albums, one of the world's most famous performers of music in the styles of soul, jazz and rhythm and blues, was awarded 17 Grammy Awards, entered the rock and roll and jazz halls of fame , country and blues, his recordings have been included in the Library of Congress. He went blind as a child.
Ray Charles, famous American blind musician
6. Eric Weihenmayer- the world's first rock climber to reach the top of Everest while blind. He lost his sight when he was 13 years old. Onako Eric completed his studies, and then became a teacher himself high school, then a wrestling coach and world-class athlete. Director Peter Winter made a live-action television film about Weihenmayer's journey, "Touch the Top of the World." In addition to Everest, Weihenmayer has conquered the seven highest mountain peaks in the world, including Kilimanjaro and Elbrus.
Eric Weihenmayer is the world's first rock climber to reach the summit of Everest while blind.
7. Oscar Pistorius disabled since birth. This person has achieved outstanding results in a field where traditionally people with disabilities cannot compete. healthy people. Having no legs below the knee, he became a track and field runner, and after numerous victories in competitions for the disabled, he won the right to compete with completely healthy athletes and achieved great success. He is also a promoter of sports among people with disabilities, active participant programs to support people with disabilities and a kind of symbol of how much success a person with physical disabilities can achieve, even in such a specific area as sports.
Oscar Pistorius, disabled since birth
8. Blind American Musician, Stevie Wonder, who provided a huge impact on the development of music of the 20th century as a whole, was one of the founders of classic soul and R’n’B. Stevie Wonder is second among pop musicians in the number of Grammy awards he has received: he received them 25 times, including for lifetime achievement. The musician went blind shortly after birth.
Another blind American musician - Stevie Wonder
9. Irishman Christy Brown, unlike previous famous disabled people, he was born with disabilities - he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Doctors considered it unpromising - the child could not walk or even move, and was developmentally delayed. But the mother did not abandon him, but cared for the baby and did not give up hope of teaching him to walk, talk, write, and read. Her action deserves deep respect - Brown's family was very poor, and his father did not accept his “inferior” son at all. In fact, Brown only controlled his left leg fully. And it was with it that he began to draw and write, mastering first chalk, then a brush, then a pen and a typewriter. He not only learned to read, speak and write, but also became a famous artist and short story writer.
Andrey Detzel
1 February 2012, 19:16You have a disability or serious disease? You are not alone. Many people with disabilities have contributed to society. Among them are actors, actresses, celebrities, singers, politicians and many other famous people. There are, of course, millions of unknown people who live, struggle and overcome their illness every day. Here is some list of famous disabled people to prove that it is possible to overcome the so-called disability barrier. Vanga(Vangelia Pandeva Gushterova, née Dimitrova; January 31, 1911, Strumitsa, Ottoman Empire - August 11, 1996 Petrich, Bulgaria) - Bulgarian clairvoyant. She was born in the Ottoman Empire into the family of a poor Bulgarian peasant. At the age of 12, Vanga lost her sight due to a hurricane, during which the whirlwind threw her hundreds of meters. She was found only in the evening with her eyes filled with sand. Her family was unable to provide treatment, and as a result Vanga went blind. Franklin Delano Roosevelt 32nd President of the United States (1933–1945) (succumbed to polio in 1921). Kutuzov(Golenishchev-Kutuzov) Mikhail Illarionovich (1745–1813) His Serene Highness Prince Smolensky(1812), Russian commander, Field Marshal General (1812) (blindness in one eye). Composer Ludwig van Beethoven(I lost my hearing with age). Musician Stevie Wonder(blindness). Sarah Bernhardt, actress (lost her leg as a result of an injury in a fall). Marlee Matlin, (deafness). Christopher Reeve, the American actor who played the role of Superman, became paralyzed after falling from a horse. Ivan IV Vasilievich(Grozny) (Russian Tsar) - epilepsy, severe paranoia Peter I Aleseyevich Romanov(Russian Tsar, later Russian Emperor) - epilepsy, chronic alcoholism I.V. Dzhugashvili(Stalin) (Generalissimo, second head of the USSR) - partial paralysis of the upper limbs Cerebral paralysis Cerebral paralysis– this term refers to a group of non-progressive, non-contagious diseases associated with damage to areas of the brain, most often causing movement disorders. Celebrities with CPU Geri Jewell(09/13/1956) – comedienne. She made her debut in the television show “Life Facts”. Geri shows from personal experience that the behavior and actions of people with CP are often misunderstood. Geri has been called a pioneer among disabled comedians. Anna McDonald is an Australian writer and disability rights activist. Her illness developed as a result birth trauma. She was diagnosed with intellectual disability, and at the age of three her parents placed her in the Melbourne Hospital for the Severely Disabled, where she spent 11 years without education or treatment. In 1980, she co-wrote her life story, Anna's Exit, with Rosemary Crossley, which was later filmed. Christy Brown(06/05/1932-09/06/1981) - Irish author, artist and poet. The film “My Left Foot” was made about his life. For many years, Christy Brown was unable to move or speak on his own. Doctors considered him mentally disabled. However, his mother continued to talk to him, develop him and try to teach him. At the age of five, he took a piece of chalk from his sister with his left leg - the only limb that obeyed him - and began to draw on the floor. His mother taught him the alphabet, and he carefully copied each letter, holding the chalk between his toes. He eventually learned to speak and read. Chris Foncheska- comedian. He worked in an American comedy club and wrote material for comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno and Roseanne Arnold. Chris Fonchesca is the first (and only) person with a visible disability to work on Late Night with David Letterman in the show's 18-year history. Many of Chris's stories are about his illness. He notes that this helps break down many preconceived barriers about cerebral palsy. Chris Nolan- Irish author. He was educated in Dublin. Cerebral palsy acquired as a result of a two-hour oxygen starvation after birth. His mother believed that he understood everything and continued to teach him at home. Eventually a cure was discovered that allowed him to move one muscle in his neck. Thanks to this, Chris was able to learn to type. Nolan never said a word in his life, but his poetry has been compared to Joyce, Keats and Yeats. He published his first collection of poems at the age of fifteen. Stephen Hawking- world famous physicist. He defied time and his doctor's claims that he would not live two years after he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Charcot's disease. Hawking cannot walk, speak, swallow, has difficulty raising his head, and has difficulty breathing. Hawking, 51, was told about the disease 30 years ago when he was an unknown college student. Miguel Cervantes(1547 – 1616) – Spanish writer. Cervantes is best known as the author of one of the greatest works of world literature - the novel "The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha." In 1571, Cervantes, being military service in the fleet, took part in the battle of Lepanto, where he was seriously wounded by a shot from an arcade, which is why he lost his left arm. Pavel Luspekayev, actor (Vereshchagin from “White Sun of the Desert”) - Amputated feet. Grigory Zhuravlev, artist - from birth he was without arms and legs. He painted pictures with a brush in his mouth. Admiral Nelson- without a hand and an eye. Homer(blindness) ancient Greek poet, author of the Odyssey Franklin Roosevelt(poliomyelitis) 32nd President of the United States Ludwig Beethoven(deafness with age) great German composer Stevie Wonder(blind) American musician Marlene Matlin(deafness) American actress. She became the first and only deaf actress to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for Children of a Lesser God. Christopher Reeve(paralysis) American actor Grigory Zhuravlev(absence of legs and arms) Russian artist (more) Elena Keller(deaf-blind) American writer, teacher Maresyev Alexey(leg amputation) ace pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union Oscar Pistorius(legless) athlete Diana Gudayevna Gurtskaya- Russian Georgian singer. Member of the Union of Right Forces. Valentin Ivanovich Dikul. In 1962, Valentin Dikul fell from a great height while performing a stunt in the circus. The doctors’ verdict was merciless: “ Compression fracture spine in lumbar region and traumatic brain injury." . One of Dikul’s main achievements was his own rehabilitation method, protected by copyright certificates and patents. In 1988, the Russian Center for Rehabilitation of Patients with spinal injuries and the consequences of childhood cerebral palsy» - the center of Dikul. In subsequent years, 3 more V.I. Dikul centers were opened in Moscow alone. Then under scientific guidance Valentin Ivanovich, a number of rehabilitation clinics appeared throughout Russia, in Israel, Germany, Poland, America, etc. Honored Master of Sports, athlete of the Omsk Paralympic Training Center Elena Chistilina. She won silver at the XIII Paralympic Games in Beijing and two bronze medals at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, and has repeatedly won Russian championships. In 2006, by Decree of the President of Russia, the athlete was awarded the medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree. Taras Kryzhanovsky(1981). He was born without two feet. Honored Master of Sports in cross-country skiing among the disabled, champion and prize-winner of the IX Paralympic Games in Turin (nomination “For outstanding achievements in sports”). Andrea Bocelli. Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli was born in 1958 in Lagiatico in the province of Tuscany. Despite his blindness, he became one of the most memorable voices of modern opera and pop music. Bocelli is equally good at performing classical repertoire and pop ballads. He recorded duets with Celine Dion, Sarah Brightman, Eros Razazzotti and Al Jarre. The latter, who sang “The Night Of Proms” with him in November 1995, said about Bocelli: “I had the honor of singing with the most beautiful voice in the world”... Stephen William Hawking(English: Stephen William Hawking, born January 8, 1942, Oxford, UK) is one of the most scientifically influential theoretical physicists of our time known to the general public. Hawking's main area of research is cosmology and quantum gravity. For three decades now, the scientist has been suffering incurable disease- multiple sclerosis. This is a disease in which motor neurons gradually die and the person becomes increasingly helpless... After throat surgery in 1985, he lost the ability to speak. Friends gave him a speech synthesizer, which was installed on his wheelchair and with the help of which Hawking can communicate with others. Married twice, three children, grandchildren. Daniela Rozzek- “wheelchair rider”, German Paralympian - fencing. In addition to playing sports, she studies at a design school and works at a center for helping the elderly. Raises a daughter. Together with other German Paralympians, she starred for an erotic calendar. Zhadovskaya Yulia Valerianovna- July 11, 1824 - August 8, 1883, poetess, prose writer. She was born with a physical disability - without one hand. She was a very interesting, talented person, communicated with a large circle of talented people of her era. Sarah Bernhardt- March 24, 1824 - March 26, 1923, actress (“divine Sarah”). Many prominent figures theater artists, for example K. S. Stanislavsky, considered Bernard's art a model of technical perfection. However, Bernard combined virtuoso skill, sophisticated technique, and artistic taste with deliberate showiness and a certain artificiality of play. In 1905, during a tour in Rio de Janeiro, the actress injured her right leg; in 1915, the leg had to be amputated. Nevertheless, Bernard did not leave the stage. During the First World War, Bernard performed at the front. In 1914 she was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor. Stevie Wonder- May 13, 1950 American soul singer, composer, pianist and producer. He is called the greatest musician of our time, achieved impressive success in the musical field, being blind from birth, received a Grammy Award 22 times, Wonder's name is immortalized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Composers Hall of Fame.
Everyone now knows about the Paralympic movement. Some Paralympic athletes are just as famous as their able-bodied counterparts. And some of these amazing people challenge ordinary athletes and not only compete on par with them, but also win. Below are 10 of the most striking examples of this in the history of world sports.
1. Markus Rehm. Germany. Athletics
As a child, Marcus was involved in wakeboarding. At the age of 14, as a result of a training accident, he lost right leg below the knee. Despite this, Markus returned to the sport and in 2005 won the German youth wakeboarding championship.
After that, Rehm switched to athletics and took up long jumping and sprinting, using a special prosthesis like the one Oscar Pistorius has. In 2011-2014, Rehm won a lot of tournaments among athletes with disabilities, including the 2012 Paralympics in London (gold in the long jump and bronze in the 4x100 meter relay).
In 2014, Rehm won the long jump at the German Championship among ordinary athletes, ahead of former European champion Christian Reif. However, the German Athletics Union did not allow Rehm to participate in the 2014 European Championships: biomechanical measurements showed that due to the use of a prosthesis, the athlete had some advantages over ordinary athletes.
2. Natalie du Toit. SOUTH AFRICA. Swimming
Natalie was born on January 29, 1984 in Cape Town. Since childhood, she has been swimming. At the age of 17, while returning from training, Natalie was hit by a car. Doctors had to amputate the girl left leg. However, Natalie continued to play sports, and competed not only with Paralympians, but also with able-bodied athletes. In 2003, she won the All-Africa Games in the 800 meters and took bronze in the Afro-Asian Games in the 400 meters freestyle.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, du Toit competed in the 10 km open water swim against able-bodied athletes and finished 16th out of 25 competitors. She became the first athlete in history to carry her country's flag at the opening ceremonies of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
3. Oscar Pistorius. SOUTH AFRICA. Athletics
Oscar Pistroius was born on November 22, 1986 in Johannesburg into a wealthy family. Oscar had a congenital physical disability - he was missing fibulas in both legs. So that the boy could use prosthetics, it was decided to amputate his legs below the knee.
Despite his disability, Oscar studied at a regular school and was actively involved in sports: rugby, tennis, water polo and wrestling, but later decided to concentrate on running. For Pistorius, special prostheses were designed from carbon fiber, a very durable and lightweight material.
Among athletes with disabilities, Pistorius had no equal in sprinting: from 2004 to 2012, he won 6 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medals at the Paralympic Games. For a long time he sought the opportunity to compete with able-bodied athletes. Sports officials initially resisted this: first it was believed that the springy prosthetics would give Pistorius an advantage over other runners, then there were concerns that the prosthetics could cause injury to other athletes. In 2008, Oscar Pistorius finally won the right to participate in competitions for ordinary athletes. In 2011, he won a silver medal as a member of the South African team in the 4x100 meter relay.
Oscar Pistorius's career ended on February 14, 2013, when he murdered his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius claimed that he committed the murder by mistake, mistaking the girl for a robber, but the court considered the murder premeditated and sentenced the athlete to 5 years in prison.
4. Natalia Partyka. Poland. Table tennis
Natalya Partyka was born with a congenital disability - without her right hand and forearm. Despite this, Natalya played table tennis since childhood: she played holding the racket in her left hand.
In 2000, 11-year-old Partyka took part in the Paralympic Games in Sydney, becoming the youngest participant in the games. In total, she has 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze Paralympic medals.
At the same time, Partyka participates in competitions for healthy athletes. In 2004, she won two gold medals at the European Cadet Championships, in 2008 and 2014 at the adult European Championships she won bronze, and in 2009, silver.
5. Héctor Castro. Uruguay. Football
At the age of 13, Hector Castro lost his right hand as a result of careless handling of an electric saw. However, this did not stop him from playing great football. He was even nicknamed El manco - "The One-Armed One".
As a member of the Uruguay national team, Castro won the 1928 Olympics and the first FIFA World Cup in 1930 (Castro scored the last goal in the final), as well as two championships South America and three Uruguay championships.
After finishing his football career, Castro became a coach. Under his leadership, his home club Nacional won the national championship 5 times.
6. Murray Halberg New Zealand. Athletics
Murray Halberg was born on July 7, 1933 in New Zealand. In his youth, he played rugby, but during one of the matches he suffered a serious injury to his left hand. Despite all the doctors' efforts, the arm remained paralyzed.
Despite his disability, Halberg did not give up sports, but switched to long-distance running. Already in 1954 he won his first title at the national level. At the 1958 Commonwealth Games he won gold in the three mile race and was voted New Zealand Sportsman of the Year.
At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Halberg competed in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. At the first distance he won, and at the second he took 5th place.
In 1961, Halberg set three world records over 1 mile in 19 days. In 1962 he again competed in the Commonwealth Games, where he carried the New Zealand flag at the opening ceremony and defended his title over three miles. Murray Halberg ended his athletic career in 1964 after competing in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, finishing seventh in the 10,000 meters.
After leaving big sport, Halberg became involved in charity work. In 1963 he created the Halberg Trust for disabled children, which became the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation in 2012.
In 1988, Murray Hallberg was awarded the honorary title of Knight Bachelor for his service to sports and disabled children.
7. Takács Károly. Hungary. Pistol shooting
Already in the 1930s, the Hungarian soldier Károly Takács was considered a world-class marksman. However, he was unable to take part in the 1936 Olympics, since he only had the rank of sergeant, and only officers were accepted into the shooting team. In 1938, as a result of the explosion of a faulty grenade, Takach was torn off. right hand. In secret from his colleagues, he began to train, holding a pistol in his left hand, and already next year was able to win the Hungarian Championship and the European Championship.
At the 1948 London Olympics, Takács won the pistol shooting competition, breaking the world record. Four years later, at the Helsinki Olympics, Károly Takács successfully defended his title and became the first ever two-time Olympic champion in rapid-fire pistol shooting.
After finishing his career as an athlete, Takács worked as a coach. His student Szilard Kuhn became a silver medalist at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki.
8. Lim Dong Hyun. South Korea. Archery
Lim Dong Hyun suffers from severe myopia: his left eye has only 10% vision and his right eye has 20%. Despite this, the Korean athlete is engaged in archery.
For Lim, targets are simply colored spots, but the athlete fundamentally does not use glasses or contact lenses, and also refuses laser correction vision. Through extensive training, Lim has developed phenomenal muscle memory, allowing him to achieve amazing results: he is a two-time Olympic champion and a four-time world champion in archery.
9. Oliver Halassy (Halassy Olivér). Hungary. Water polo and swimming
At the age of 8, Oliver was hit by a tram and lost part of his left leg below the knee. Despite his disability, he was actively involved in sports - swimming and water polo. Halassi was a member of the Hungarian water floor team, the world leader in the sport in the 1920s and 1930s. As a member of the national team, he won three European Championships (in 1931, 1934 and 1938) and two Olympics (in 1932 and 1936), and also became a silver medalist at the 1928 Olympics.
In addition, Halassi showed good results in freestyle swimming, but only at the national level. He won about 30 gold medals at the Hungarian championships, but at the international level his results were weaker: only in 1931 he won the European Championship in the 1500 meters freestyle, and did not compete in swimming at all at the Olympic Games.
After finishing his sports career, Oliver Halassi worked as an auditor.
Oliver Halassi died under very vague circumstances: on September 10, 1946, he was shot by a Soviet soldier Central group troops in their own car. For obvious reasons, this fact was not advertised in socialist Hungary, and the details of the incident remained unclear.
10. George Eyser. USA. Gymnastics
Georg Eiser was born in 1870 in the German city of Kiel. In 1885, his family emigrated to the USA, and therefore the athlete became known as English form named George Acer.
In his youth, Eiser was hit by a train and almost completely lost his left leg. He was forced to use a wooden prosthesis. Despite this, Eiser did a lot of sports - in particular, gymnastics. He took part in the 1904 Olympics, where he won 6 medals in various gymnastic disciplines (exercises on the uneven bars, vault, rope climbing - gold; exercises on the pommel horse and exercises on 7 apparatus - silver; exercises on the horizontal bar - bronze). Thus, George Acer is the most decorated amputee athlete in Olympic history.
At the same Olympics, Eiser participated in triathlon (long jump, shot put and 100-meter dash), but took last, 118th place.
After the Olympic triumph, Eiser continued to perform as a member of the Concordia gymnastics team. In 1909, he won the National Gymnastics Festival in Cincinnati.
