Paralympics 2008

Since there is no coverage on tv about the Paralympics, I wanted to share with you my nephew Jeremy Campbell, who has trained for two years to get to China for the 2008 Paralympics, this morning we got the call that he broke the World Record and took Gold in the Pentathlon!!! We are sooooooooo excited, and wanted to share with you!
Here are a few links to read his story and a bunch more links on some very talented athletes that are so awesome to watch!

http://olympics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/for-paralympic-pentathlon-winner-exhaustion-and-ecstasy/

http://en.chinagate.com.cn/archives/Paralympic/2008-09/11/content_16436649.htm

I am so proud of him!

Quickchickleslie
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I used to teach handicapped skiing at Winter Park. these people are truly amazing. the racers were much faster than yours truly. some had one leg, no legs, etc. Truly amazing.

If we all had their spirit, it would indeed be a better world.

 

That is sooooo cool!

Dave

 

Congratulations to your nephew and family Leslie. Awesome!!

 

Very cool!

 

Let me just say, as a fellow multi event athlete (Decathlete at CU), what Jeremy did athletically is beyond incredible. Add the fact he did it with a prosthetic fibula, and it's just inspiring. I looked over his results for all 5 events and they are awesome, it really is a reflection of the strong human spirit. If he ever comes up to Colorado, let him know that the entire CU multi event crew (probably even our entire track team) would love to meet him! I am absolutley going to keep him in my thoughts during my hard training sessions this year, it is very inspring to know that someone with a lot more adveristy than myself overcame it and kicks some serious ass now!!

Also, here's a cool stat I saw about Jeremy and the discus.

His mark of 52.3 meters (171 ft 5in) in the discus would of been second place in that event during this summer's Olympic decathlon. The only person who would have beat him would of been gold medal winner Bryan Clay, who threw the disc 53.79 (176'5in)....which was an Olympic RECORD for the multi events! Furthermore...if Bryan Clay wouldn't have had that 53.79 meter throw, I am about 98% sure that Jeremy's throw would have been the FARTHEST DISCUS THROW IN OLYMPIC MULTI EVENT HISTORY!!! Just incredible!!

Run that by him Leslie!

Thank you so much for letting us know about him! Tell him congrats and he is amazing (because I don't know if anyone has told him yet?? )

 

Relay my congrats as well Leslie. This is great for him and I know you and Charles are happy for him as well. Kevin

 

Leslie,

That is amazing! If he is at your track day, I want his autograph! WOW!

 

Thank you for all the kind words!

Alex:
I just got off the phone with Jeremy, and read him your post! He was very excited! Very very excited to hear from you and all the support from the CU multi event crew! He says thank you, amd would like to meet up with you and your team at CU! Now here s a little tidbit for you! Jeremy is planning on coming to Colorado after he gets back from China, he is going to try to plan around our track event so he can surprise Grandma and Grandpa that will be at the track hanging with us, because it is my fathers (his Grandfather) 77th birthday on the 28th!

The other reason Jeremy wants to come to Colorado, is he wants to visit CU and talk to the athletic department! That has been his goal before he went to China. He has put school on hold for two years so he could train in Chula Vista, but really wants to go to school, and hopes to enroll for 2009.

So hopefully when he gets here, we could arrange for you guys to meet.

Again, thank you for all your kind words, we are very excited for him!

leslie

Not to take away from Jeremy, but his brother made news this past summer too, you might remember hearing about him, Caleb Campbell, the West Point cadet that got drafted in the 7th round to the Detroit Lions!

 

Very cool story!

 

Jeremy Campbell of the United States won the gold of the Men's Discus Throw - F44 event with a result of 55.08 meters at the National Stadium,also known as the Bird's Nest,during the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing on September 15, 2008.

55.08!!!!!
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My friend Nick Springer is representing the USA for wheelchair rugby. I wanted to go to China so badly to watch him but I just couldn't afford it

 

This dude is a BEAST!!!!!