The 2008 Summer Olympics have come to an end, but moving stories of life, achievement, and persevering just keep rolling in…

Natalie du Toit is a 24-year-old South African amputee, who fell victim to a life-changing motorcycle accident. With a prosthetic leg and a lot of courage, du Toit went out to contend for a medal in the marathon swimming games (Yes! And, she actually did it after removing the prosthetic.). Now, she didn’t win (came in 16^th), but she was excited about actually just doing it. She said she left it all in the water.

She didn’t focus on her disability, rather she just went into the open water and sojourned. Best of all, she was an Olympian.

Go Natalie… can’t wait to see you in the 2012 Olympics in London!

While watching Michael Phelps continue to make Olympic history, I heard a story about him that made me say ‘hmmm’…

In the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Phelps beat out his, then, rival Ian Crocker in the 400 meter medley (a.k.a. they switch swimming styles of each leg). As a rival and teammate, Phelps chose to forfeit his spot in the finals (Yes, the finals is where he would’ve picked up his gold!) for Crocker so he would have a chance to redeem himself. And guess what? Crocker brought home the gold… (Mike is something else, huh?… I may have had to think on that a bit more. LOL!).

I brought this scenario closer to home as I thought on times when I was in a position to be selfless. Sometimes it just isn’t that easy… You know, the type of selflessness that really costs you something. Well, I thought about Hubby and how someone once told me to wake up every day asking myself how I can put him first (You know, above my own selfish tendencies…)… Wait!… (I am actually cracking myself up because, Honey, some days are better than others. LOL!).

Anyway, sometimes you can find an opportunity within your relationship to give up your goals-big or small-for the one you love most. It’s a priceless feeling that builds as you await the next opportunity.

Man… I’m sitting here thinking how to even begin this story. Just when you think you’ve seen or heard an amazing story, another one just crashes through. And, no matter what your stance is on this story, you’ll have to give this guy his propers (Bigups!) for such a passionate display.

This 24-year-old guy, Eric Shanteau, competed in the Olympic swimming trials, coming in at second place. With his finishing time, he was able to grab a spot on the 2008 Olympic swimming team. A once in a life time event being held in Beijing, Shanteau was presented with a choice (or maybe he didn’t think of it as a choice at all). He was diagnosed with testicular cancer a week prior to the trials and with this news, this champion decided to continue his quest for gold and go on to Beijing (Wow, right?).

Shanteau will have to face surgery, but it will happen after he comes back home. Maintaining that he’s not being naïve about the matter, Shanteau is having doctors monitor him closely during his time away. Apparently, his feelings are that the Olympics may be his once in a lifetime experience and he doesn’t want to miss out on that…

A courageous one indeed, what is your stance on Shanteau’s decision and have you ever found yourself in a once in a lifetime situation (It doesn’t have to be sports related.)?

Okay, this story is totally out of the “professional athlete” norm for WTAC, but darling enough to dedicate a post to.

Nutshell… this small boy, Kyle, is a golf prodigy and (to him) he has the best caddy in the whole world-his dad. Crazy twist… Kyle is currently (and hopefully forever) a survivor of cancer and his dad is due to leave for his first of two tours to Iraq.

I saw this story while taking in my daily dose of ESPN (I’m telling you, you have to check this station out!) and I was just taken by this little person who had already endured so much and found (in his own little way) solace in this simple (yet complex) game. Kyle, at age 5, completely understands the danger that awaits his dad and yet his tiny smile shows such gratitude of the “now” time that he has with his dad.

What a fighter and victor… he’s beaten cancer, he’s resolved on his father’s return from Iraq, and (of course) he’s beaten guys three times his age on the green.

By the way… (cutest thing!) Kyle intends to keep playing while his fave caddy is away and in the meantime his mom will be the acting caddy (Yeah, Kyle isn’t too thrilled with his caddy mom, but will take his chances!). Moms can do it all… right Moms??

I know we’ve been on a Boston kick, so there’s no reason to deter from that now (smile!)… but, this story is one of courage, fortitude, and endurance… and, one that I couldn’t help but share.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester (amazingly) returned to the team after recovering from cancer. I am so excited about this story because Lester made a choice-even after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma-to fight the disease and to return to baseball, the sport he loved.

Photo by Guano. (CC)

Enduring chemo, which he admits sucked (uh, yeah!), speaks volumes to his determination to get into game shape (If you didn’t know, chemo tends to do the counter of one being able to remain in any type of desired shape.) and be a valued part of the team.

Lester’s winning spirit is one for the books… He didn’t allow his illness to strip him of his dreams and his happiness. You shouldn’t either… choose to make it!

A character can be developed and massaged over time… True? True. And it is also safe to say that a character can ever evolve and mature into that ideal state of being. What is truly unbelievable is when that character is pushed into greatness by anything but great circumstances.

Photo by Eric Kilby. (CC)

Leon Powe, the second-year reserve for the NBA’s Boston Celtics, has beat tremendous odds to now be in a place of potential super stardom and notoriety (And yes, I know you’re wondering… off-the-bench players are sometimes called “reserves”. Their job is to come off the bench and give their team a boost). As the oldest child, Powe possessed a superstar character earlier on after his father (his name sake) walked out on the family.

His life’s story consumed my heart as I listened and read about it… A life of homelessness, hunger, and helplessness. After an accidental fire-which destroyed everything-the family was left in dire straits… so much so that Powe’s mother found herself in legal troubles for her actions in trying to care for her family. In an interview, Powe says he saw his mom sacrifice eating so he and the other children could eat. With that same heart, he would give up meals, too. At 40, Powe’s mother died from a heart attack. He believed she worked herself to death for them. Her death forced the children to be placed into foster homes and Powe wasn’t satisfied with the state of things at all.

After much mentoring, Powe’s superstar character stood up in him and he used his basketball talent to finally reach the big times (NBA, of course). He ensured that his first priority was to get his sisters and brothers back together… and that’s what he did. With all that he has endured in his life, he has maintained his hope.

The Celtics and the LA Lakers continue their championship run in the 2008 NBA Finals… I’m sure Powe will be that added effort that the Celtics will need. Be sure to share Powe’s story with your sports enthusiast (During a commercial, please! LOL!)!

The rivalry is palpable and there’s no denying the intense history between the two dynasties. The LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics are in the NBA Playoffs, starting tonight, and the feeling is in the air. Seriously, as you’re watching the game you see history peeping through the crowd. That’s where my words find their meaning-in the history.

The history I speak of is that of the likes of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, and please give an ovation for Bill Russell. The athletes are why Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garrett are able to be who they are today (Okay, let’s not ever be remised to leave Michael Jordan out of the dialogue of greatness.).

These historians of the grace and discipline of basketball are beyond compare. Words just aren’t there to describe the talent and confidence and champion that every one of these guys possess.

Today these historians sit and watch the young ones play and achieve and compete. Today I sit and watch the reasons (Magic, Kareem, Larry, Bill) why they are, indeed, able to play and achieve and compete.

Who do you offer respect and thanks to for paving the way for you?

Every parent’s wish is for their child to come into this world with 10 fingers and 10 toes. It’s a desire that, above all else, health prevails. And, the mysterious observation about parenthood-despite anything that comes up-is the unending capacity to hope. They hope in the face of disappointment, adversity, and seemingly hopeless situations… These parents are no different.

Ernie Els, a former World No. 1 and member of the PGA tour, (with confidence and courage) recently revealed that his 5-year-old son, Ben, has autism. After dealing with the diagnoses for some time privately (understandingly so), Els and his wife, Lielz, disclosed that they were now comfortable with sharing (couldn’t imagine the level of difficulty). During the PGA tour earlier this year, Els donned an Autism Speaks logo on his golf bag (Go Ernie!). Obviously showing the logo on purpose, Els desires to use his celebrity to raise money and bring awareness to the disorder.

Admitting that it isn’t easy, Els settles into the fact that there has been a change of life and priorities for his family. But, the Els find that they are quite capable of dealing with this as part of their lives and would just like to help others who are less fortunate in the same situation.

The U.S. Open is fast approaching… look for Els (and maybe Little Ben) as he courageously fights this battle with and for his son.

Could you imagine revealing some of your most private struggles to the world?… How would you answer the world’s, then, unending desire to know more?