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Dear Andy,
Congratulations on winning the first medal at the 2010 Paralympic Games at Whistler Olympic Park. It was our first medal of the games and the first-ever medal for U.S. Paralympic Biathlon team and YOU won it on opening day of competition.
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I know very few people will ever hear or know your story or who you are since you haven't been thrust into the public eye like your fellow athletes of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver last month.
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I was in tears when I saw your pictures and read how
Following 9/11 Andy Soule you decided you wanted to give back to your country and you joined the Army. I am so sorry that you were wounded soon after basic training. But wounded isn't even a proper description of what happened to you and what you gave up for me and for your country and for the freedom of other people in the world.
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I am sorry that I can't relate to the life changing events that occurred when you were deployed to Afghanistan where an improvised explosive device detonated next to your Humvee, resulting in double leg amputation.
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I have had an ear severed from my head, the side of my head sheared off and traumatic brain injury just over a year ago but I still won't ever know what you went through and what you go through every single day, nor will many other people. Some days I don't know for sure which foot goes in which shoe and other days I walk in circles when the fog sets in upstairs, but at least I am blessed to have feet and can walk. But for you to loose not only one limb but two saddens me for you and others who have experienced life changing and traumatic injuries in any way.
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I can't relate to most of your experiences since I have not served my country in war and I have all my limbs and they work like they are suppose to. But you, to have lost both legs in war - gone in a split second is something thats beyond my ability to comprehend and most others too I am guessing.
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Perhaps that's why no one reads your story either.
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Your an inspiration to so many and to so few all at the same time.
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You beat all the odd against you, when after finishing a few years of rehabilitation you looked for options that would keep you active. I imagine that took some creative thinking on your part to find events like the cross country recruitment camp in Sun Valley, Idaho.
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You must be strong mentally and physically, along with ambitious and athletic to pick a sport you had no experience in and not only catch on quickly and become hooked. And then to become so skilled that you won a Medal at the Paralympic Winter Games in less then five years is awesome.
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Wow, you amaze me with your determination!
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The U.S. Paralympics press releases today reported that you came from behind in the final race of the men's sitting 2.4 km pursuit to win the bronze medal. They also mentioned you were a a U.S. Army veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom.
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They included a few quotes from you and your coach and the U.S. Biathlon Executive Director Max Cobb, that I wanted to share.
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"After I passed [Sergey] Shilov, I just hammered it and didn't look back," said Soule. "It felt just incredible. I've had World Cup wins and World Cup podiums before, but there's nothing quite like this - in this atmosphere, in front of the crowd here with everyone watching."
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"It was a great race," said US Biathlon Paralympic Head Coach Greg Rawlings. "He went into it with a great attitude and just started reeling people in. He missed one and went around the penalty loop, but didn't stress it. He just kept going and cleaned it on the final. I think his brain switched right there and he figured out that he was in the game. He was able to pick people off one at a time until he was at the line."
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"Andy did an amazing job today, coming from behind in the last loop with one penalty. It was a spectacular performance and I couldn't be more proud of him," said US Biathlon Executive Director Max Cobb. "US Biathlon just got involved in the Paralympics about two and a half years ago. For us, this is validation of the athletes' hard work, of the coaches' work with them and the fact that the American team can win medals at the Paralympic level in biathlon."
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Sounds to me like you are one fine athlete, soldier and man.
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An inspirational story for anyone to read. Not just for people with disabilities like yours, but also for people with abilities who fail to use them to achieve our greatest potential in life, work or in sports as you have chosen to do. You showed us yesterday something we don't often see from ourselves or others in our daily world. Your abilities. You focused on only your abilities and became a Paralympic Medal Winner.
You've been a winner for a long time, but that you already know...
Sincerely,
Kim Hartman
P.S. After I read this over I don't feel sorry for you anymore, I feel your Joy and I want to thank you for making today a better day for me.
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God Bless America and God Bless You Andy Soule
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sources:
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terciopelo
Emily Holleman
The Judge
Steve Katz
Amy A
Salon.com
Comments
R.
I wish the special olympics held in Lincoln NE this summer would/will get the same coverage as the Olympics we just had, but I doubt it. And the para- and special-olympics work just as hard if not harder to get there.
Congratulations Andy!
Rated.
Of course, those are Canadian networks, so that probably doesn't help most Open Salon readers.
Check out the usparlympics.org link for more personal stories on the Games and the individual Athletes.
http://usparalympics.org/news/2010/03/14/soule-s-medal-a-historic-feat/34547?ngb_id=15
So many awesome individual stories on these athletes...
http://usparalympics.org/news/2010/03/14/victor-wins-silver-in-slalom/34550?ngb_id=15
Go USA.. Go Stephani
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Five-time Paralympian Chris Waddell was inducted into the Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame on Sunday, becoming the first American to receive the honor. Waddell has a career 12 winter Paralympic medals and one summer Paralympic medal.
http://videos.teamusa.org/index.jsp?fr_story=012671959eef43d6fd3294db20fd7f611683efef
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