Seattle Special Olympics Story

Seattle Special Olympics

Some people understand life better, and some of these people are called “retarded.”

At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants – all physically or mentally disabled – assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.

At the gun, they all started out not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back – every one of them. One girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, “This will make it better.”

Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line.

Everyone in the stadium stood. The cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down we know this one thing:

What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves.

What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.

3 thoughts on “Seattle Special Olympics Story”

  1. The Snopes article is wrong. I was watching the actual race on TV. I happened just like they say: 1 boy fell, started crying, all the runners stop, turn back, hug and kiss him and they cross the finish line with arms linked. The Special Olympics has made a commercial out of it using actors to reenact the scene. I’m not sure why they just wouldnt use the original footage to put an end to the debunking…

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