Interested in purchasing art work? Please leave a comment with your email address. I'll contact you. Illustration work is available at ASA "Style File."

Monday, January 17, 2011

Paralympians--My Heroes

Yahoo, Friends, I enjoyed Paralympic Warm Up in Sydney at the stadium in Sydney Olympic Park. It was held just before "The International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships" from January 21-30, 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
For the first time, I met the Paralympians and watched their great game in my eyes. Not many audience were at seats. But "not busy" was good for me to meet athletes in person, had a chat with them and their lovely coach, Ms Mandi Cole "volunteering" (what a tough word in an economic aspect...she is so noble.) So, Mandi(below) professionally coaches Olympic athletes, too, in Victoria.
Paralympians and Olympic athletes practice together. Mandi also looks after Japanese paralympic players. International. But Friends, what's the difference of disabilities in people? No. Nothing to do with narrow concepts of nationalities or races.

I saw how caring Mandi was! Really, really sensitive and extensive for each team member and even to me, a stranger with a walking stick. Her rapport with the team was great, as if she were providing "love." INDEED! Once, Mandi sensed an athlete needed backup, she immediately came closer and had a talk with an enormous care. It moved me so much. (even though she was very, very shy regarding my sketching! Cute!!)
From Mandi, I've learned lots about paralympic athletes and games.
"Sadami, look at a board over there. The number besides an athlete means a defined difficulty such as an amputated leg, arm, where was amputated, blind, intellectual disabilities etc." I see...
"And they can check a world record (in their categories) such as a blind can run right on a track etc" Got it! "Get into IPC web and you can get detailed information," Mandi added.

The game and players touched my heart. Oh, I nearly shed tears. A blind long jumper got set, but the audience's noises disturbed his trial. Background music was stopped and an announcement asked us cooperation. We kept dead silence. Then, his coach started clapping his hands and shouting. High tension. Go! He made it!! All of us gave the player a big applause. This isn't real Olympic spirit? We cheer up anyone!
You should see how strong and fast amputated athletes run. Amazing. They had specially designed amputated legs for sports. Wheelchair races were very exciting that reminded me of the movie, "Ben-hur."
According to Mandi, "(a wheelchair is) Very, very light." Although I sent big cheers for Australia, I sent the biggest cheer for the last runner and so did other team members!! Very humane and touchy.

In my observation, all amputated long jumpers used their amputated legs for jump. Is it a rule? "No," said Mandi. "An amputated leg has a spring and more bounce than the other. It is slightly longer than the other." Oh, I see...

The paralympians are young and full of energy. I saw their family members, too. Nothing. Nothing different from a person without disabilities. I know some people give up their lives and hope...and do not try rehabilitation at all. Friends, do you realize I use the term, "people with disabilities, " not "disabled people." I believe these athletes are never disabled. Neither am I.

This encounter cheered me up very much. I heard that a middle aged gentleman recently amputated has decided to challenge learning a wheelchair. Wow, great encouraging!! Mandi recommends me a bicycle or a tricycle like my podiatrist. My podiatrist is making new orthoticses right now. I do not give up hope. Rehabilitation is boring, which requires a very long term. (*at least 3 months are needed to see some result from physiotherapy). Some people drop out from it.
But I'd like to tell,"Don't lose heart. Never give up your great abilities and the potential. Where there's a will, there's a way and always PEOPLE who happily help you like Mandi! You're not alone and shining, when you maximize you." So, Friends, if you know anyone with disabilities and down-and-out, please pass this post to her/him.

yes...Sadami is flying!
Lastly, special thanks for all the paralympians and Mandi who gave me courage and hope for the future. I'll never forget you all!Hip, Hip, Hurray, Hurray, my heroes!!


Share/Bookmark

47 comments:

  1. Wonderful sketches, Sadami! and as always, with great sensitivity.
    regards

    Maravillosos bocetos, Sadami!! y como siempre, con una gran sensibilidad.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Carlos,
    Thank you so much!!
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sadami, estoy emocionado de tu gran corazón!
    Estos detalles son los que te hacen ver, que a pesar de los problemas que existen en nuestras vidas, hay siempre una esperanza y un objetivo por el que luchar!
    Un beso.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Joshemari,
    Thank you very much! I admire your BIG HEART.
    A kiss, Sadami

    Estimado Joshemari,
    Muchas gracias! Admiro su gran corazón.
    Un beso, Sadami

    >>>>>Joshemari said..
    Sadami, I am excited for your big heart!
    These details are what make you see that despite the problems in our lives, there is always a hope and a goal to fight!
    A kiss.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very nice sketches, Sadami, and they demonstrate once more the great person you are. Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful and inspiring post, Sadami. You certainly are flying with angels wings.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely post, thoughts, and illustrations Sadami!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hurra!... for the heroes and for you. Dear Sadami is a fantastic job. I am very impressed. Thanks for the positive vibrations.
    Cheers and winks

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dear Albert,
    Thanks! Sketching was fun.
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dear Carol,
    Thank you. Yes, I fly high.
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dear Dora,
    Thank you for enjoying my post!
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Carmen,
    Thank you and send your cheers for any athletes and people living with disabilities daily.
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you Sadami for this wonderful post. You are our Hero!! These sketches are absolutely beautiful...full of emotion.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dear Hilda,
    Thank you very much! Drawing gives me wings.
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sadami
    What a fabulous event to go to and it's great you got up real close to meet people. You are all heart!

    The human spirit is amazing and it can achieve many things.

    Cheers, Evelyn

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dear Evelyn,
    Yes, that's what I want to tell! Thank you so much!!
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  17. What an uplifting and joyous post. Love the fresh and lively paintings - they show your heart and are so encouraging and hopeful.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dear Sandy,
    Thank you so much for visiting and a kind say. Great honor and encouragement for me!
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a wonderful story Sadami! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I am with you on them: people with disabilities are some times ( most of the time!!) stronger than people without just because they do know how to appreciate life and what life gives you.

    And like always your paintings are amazing. They glow with light and cheerfulness!

    Have a great productive week!
    Irina

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dear Irina,
    Thank you for encouragement! Yes, let us enjoy making works more and more. "Life is beautiful and people are lovely!"--my favorite say.
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sadami, thank you for this wonderful tour and words about the people. I felt like I was there with you. I know you made them happy with your sketches!

    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sadami- As always, awesome sketches! I loved your post and your paintings have so much life!
    Sheryl

    ReplyDelete
  23. Dear Teri,
    Thank you. People around me enjoyed my sketches. Enjoy drawing and painting!
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dear Sheryl,
    Thanks! Sketching something outside is my strategy to find out inspiration for a bigger work.
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love this series of paralympic athletes, very beautiful Sadami, so dynamic and spontaneous. A hug.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Dear Leovi,
    Thank you! I'd like to give you my big hug!
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  27. dear Sadami ! these persons, YOUR words and your
    paintings have touched my heart ! It was a great
    event for them and for you and it's really great
    to share this!
    your sketches are really wonderful !!I'm flying
    too !!!
    bisous

    ReplyDelete
  28. Very inspiring, Sadami and I loved the last one :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great sketches, and a great touching story, full of love and joy, Sadami! Thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hello Sadami

    What a wonderful post. Thank you so much

    Ray x

    ReplyDelete
  31. Dear Marty,
    Thank you!! Your cheers, their game, lovely smiles and great muscles encourage me. If muscles are not used, they get shrunk and gone. Sports on a graound and rehabilitation is not easy because of serious cramps and difficulties in movement/balance. But this event lifts me up. These days, I've begun to make a very long "swimming," such as 1,200m in an ocean pool at a beach. Made it!! I'll challenge a station bike once again.
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  32. Dear Arti,
    Thank you! I love that cartoon, too;).
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  33. Dear Cristina,
    Thank you! You're always caring. I'll try rehabilitation "more and steady."
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  34. Dear Ray,
    Thank you! Walking on a ground is a "sophisticated art." I'll challenge it!
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  35. Dear Sadami,

    I see a lot of heart, warm feelings and positive energy in your sketches.
    These paintings tell about everything you've wrote here.
    Excellent story and many wise thoughts. Thank you very much for it. I'll pass it on, I promise.

    Best wishes,
    Akwarelia

    ReplyDelete
  36. Dear Akwarelia,
    Thank you very much! If any event comes to your place, join it and have fun together.
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love these sketches! I've been thinking about relying more on my paint and less on my pencil...

    ReplyDelete
  38. Dear Freckles,
    Thank you for visiting my blog. Your cartoons are so charming and cute. Please keep up.
    Cheers, wink, wink, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  39. Oh, Sadami - what a shame for me! I've just read my last comment and I need to apologize you for mistakes which I made.
    I don't have many occasions to use English, so my English every day is worse and worse. It's sad how quickly you loose your skills when you don't practice regulary...

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Dear Sadami,
    ??? I do not see the point of your post. You do not need to either apologize or bring you down at all. I perfectly understand the difficulty in using another language. Please be proud of your English, avhievements and kindness. Let us move forward and enjoy our lives fully!!
    Love and smile, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hola Sadami, este es un post muy bonito, es un tema que a mi también me toca de cerca , tengo una hija con discapacidad severa, y estoy immerso en este mundo, por esto te agradezco la manera de abordar el tema resaltando que estos atletas son como cualquier atleta con sus cualidades y sus limitaciones , pero seguro que con más espíritu de superación que una persona sin problema, a parte de la calidad humana de tu relato, como siempre los dibujos son maravillosos,llenos de espontaneidad, reflejan perfectamente el movimiento y el ambiente, me encanta.
    Saludos.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Dear Francis,
    Thank you for sharing your pains with me. Let us turn tears into joy. A person has unlimited possiblities and great abilities. Of course, I do not mean to say cheap idealism. My view is based on reality and already these athletes have proven them. Maximizing individual abilities requires hard work and a long term.

    Estimado Francisco,
    Gracias por compartir tus penas conmigo. Veamos las lágrimas en alegría. Una persona tiene posibilidades ilimitadas y grandes habilidades. Por supuesto, yo no quiero decir idealismo barato. Mi opinión se basa en la "realidad" y ya que estos atletas han demostrado. Maximizar las capacidades individuales / talentos requiere buenas opciones, auto confianza, el trabajo duro, a largo plazo y copias de seguridad de los demás. No es fácil y un proceso muy lento. Pero creo que un día, cuando una persona mira hacia atrás la vida, que encontrarás en lo lejos que ha llegado y la alegría compartir con los demás. Por favor, pase mis mejores deseos y saludos grande a su hermosa hija. Ella estará siempre en mi oración.
    El amor y la sonrisa, Sadami

    >>>>Francis said...
    Sadami Hi, this is a very nice post, is an issue that I too close to my heart, I have a daughter with severe disabilities, and I'm immersed in this world, so I appreciate the approach to the issue noting that these athletes are like any athlete with their qualities and limitations, but certainly with more spirit to overcome a person without a problem, apart from the human quality of your story, as always the pictures are wonderful, full of spontaneity, perfectly reflect the movement and the environment, I love it.
    Greetings.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Dear Francis,

    Woops, the last part of English, above, has gone. So, I add them here.

    "Not easy and a very slow process. But I believe one day when a person looks back life, she’ll find how far she has come and share joy with others. Please pass my best wishes and big cheers to your lovely daughter. She will be always in my prayer."
    Love and smile, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  44. Sometimes Sadami, I think I overuse the words inspiring and inspirational, but here it best describes how I truly feel. Once I worked as a horticulture therapist and my experiences with disabled people changed me. On days when I think my pain is unbearable, I am able to think about how other disabled people, both physical and mentally, manage to push on through pain and frustration to live fulfilling lives. Your lyrical watercolors are a tribute to that spirit.

    Yours,

    GG

    ReplyDelete
  45. Dear Garden Groans,
    Thank you very much. I'm so happy with your comment. Your experiences are wonderful. Please maximize what you've learned for yourself, others and society. By art work, I'd like to advocate people with disabilities.
    Best wishes, Sadami

    ReplyDelete
  46. What a wonderful post! Thanks for sharing your experience. Along with your paintings!
    VIcki

    ReplyDelete
  47. Dear Vicki,
    Thanks for your kind comment. I believe that a person's ability is great and unlimited.
    Cheers, Sadami

    ReplyDelete