Seattle Special Olympics

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Parts of this story have been proven to be untrue, according to this page on Snopes.com

A few years ago 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, 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, and cheered; 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 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.

This Post Has 16 Comments

  1. Laurie

    Wonderful story! Is there a video available?
    Thanks Very Much!
    Laurie

  2. sunita yadav

    It is really a wonderful story…an eye opener.
    there are many more things which we need to learn from these children, as they are far compassionate than we are.
    May be they understand life better than us.
    thanks

  3. Nizamudin

    Unbeleivable? Please let me know if there is a video available

  4. Mauricio Ramirez

    This story is not true! There were never any special olympics in Seattle, they always take place after the other olympics, and in the same city.

  5. Steph Mineart

    As noted at the link at the top – much of this story isn’t true – please visit the Snopes.com link, where they debunk urban legends like this one.

  6. Chuck Zehnder

    I saw this in a movie years ago and wish I could get a video of it. It starred the mildly Downs Syndrome boy who was in that family TV series a few years ago. If you know the movie, please let us know so we can get a copy.

  7. torroong jarungidanan

    Answer to 4
    I don’t know if the stoty was true or not, but the compition after the summer olympics is paralimpics which is for people who are physically disabled. This special olmpics is for the mentally ones.

  8. Chris McCarthy

    Hi Mauricio Ramirez you statement on the olympics is not quite right, you do not have to have hosted the summer games to host the special olympics. Ireland hosted the special Olympics in the last ten years, yet has never even tried for the summer olympics never mind getting them. This story is all about getting you and me to take a look at life and put it into perspective. For example, I call my mother every day, that’s because my father has died and I will never be able to speak to him again, I did not speak to him enough when he was alive, same goes for my brother who at 46 died this summer, I regret not calling him every day. So this story on the 100m dash is not about true or false it’s about how you look at the story and to show that it is possible to be competitive and human at the same time. Now go say hi to someone you should have said it to already.

  9. Pati Flor

    Hi… again.. if someone knows if a video is available (from the true story and or from the movie), can you please provide the link? tks!

  10. Alan Fourie

    Happiness is a journey not a destination love and care only add blessings to the ride! It is the “lack- of” this very love and care that diables and handicaps many of us.

  11. m tz

    If someone knows if a video is available (from the true story and or from the movie), can you please provide the link? tks!

  12. Richard Schilling

    This did happen. One of the radio announcers at this event is my acting coach. And I recently saw a commercial that featured the event very nicely. It won best commercial at a festival. I saw the commercial just a week or so ago on a flight from Seattle to Miami. It was one of the featured commercials on the video player rental that Alaska provides on their flights. So, this did actually happen.

  13. Libby Farrell

    No, there has never been a Seattle special olympics. Go into the sight and they have all the history there.

  14. Peter

    True or not, it doesnt matter, but we do need stories like these to jumpstart our hearts every now and then..

  15. Sheri Hogan

    Snopes categorizes this account as “True, sort of”.
    According to the special olympics committee the track and field event took place in Spokane, WA, 1976.
    One of the athletes fell, and one or two of his fellow athletes turned back to help him. In the end, these crossed the line together.
    I still think it’s heartwarming.
    Hope this helped.

  16. Stella

    Seattle or not, I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
    About 3 or 4 kids returned to help the one that fell. Then they walked to the finish line.
    I wish I could find this footage to send it around

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