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Amputee Vies For Gold
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The top athletes in the world are getting ready to compete in the summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. But after the Olympics, another competition will take place at Olympic stadium—the Paralympics for disabled athletes. For the first time this year, the United States will field a women’s team in sitting volleyball. And one of the team members has learned that blessings can be found in most-unlikely situations. |
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SCRIPT:
A sport that almost proved fatal for Deb Vosler is now giving her new opportunities.
Deb is a member of the U.S.A.’s women’s Paralympic sitting volleyball team.
Deb Vosler: “To be able to represent my family and my community and my church and my country just is phenomenal. I still can’t believe it.”
An athletic scholarship helped her through college. But she was injured playing volleyball. Her right leg was amputated after many unsuccessful operations and a dangerous infection.
Deb Vosler: “They didn’t think I would live. They told my parents that they didn’t think I’d come off the operating table.”
Deb lives in the quiet farming town of Eyota, Minnesota. There she teaches science and coaches volleyball at the high school. She found out about the Paralympic team while attending a coaching school.
Deb Vosler: “Never did I think when I had an amputation that I was going to say it was a blessing.”
Friends say nothing seems to get Deb Vosler down.
Nancy Whitcomb / Friend of Deb Vosler: “Close to 50 surgeries, she has never said, ‘why me?’
Deb’s United Methodist church and community rallied behind her. They held dinners and auctions to help with expenses for the trip to Athens, Greece.
The Rev. Mark Woodward / Faith United Methodist Church: “I think she’s an inspiration in that she is determined to not let anything stand in the way of human potential and spiritual potential.”
And Deb Vosler has turned adversity into opportunity.
Deb Vosler: “Boy, have I had a lot of dreams come true. And so when we moved to the farm, we named it Dream Estates. My dream right now is to win a gold medal in the Paralympic games.”
TAG:
Paralympic athletes will compete in 19 different sports this September. Most of the games are similar to the Olympics. But several Paralympic events are unique, including power lifting and wheelchair rugby.