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through the finish tape and winning the gold medal. Growing up, Billy had a less fortunate life. He lived in poverty and when he was 8 years old his mother died. Billy’s father told him that he should not let his emotions “destroy him”. All through his life Billy remembered his father’s words. As he got older, Billy became more vulnerable to racial comments. In many photos taken he was asked to stay out of the shot and this led him to a mental breakdown. Very soon afterwards, he decided to commit suicide. Billy came so close to killing himself, but just before he did, he remembered his father’s words and decided to keep on going. He soon discovered he had a passion for running and this helped him through his emotional phase. He trained for years and finally made it to the Olympic Games. Billy ended his athletic career and became focused on supporting the Native American youth, encouraging them to keep on going, no matter what happens. He now works with his charity Running Strong for American Indian Youth and shares his words of wisdom with people all over the world. What caught me most about Billy was that even when he was at breaking point, he never gave up, it did not matter that he had no parents, lived in poverty and was racially abused, he just took it all and kept on going. Then, even at the age of 74, Billy still pushes people forward to help them reach their goals. Sometimes it is easier altogether to just give up and stop, but Billy Mills showed us that achieving something after working so hard to get it, takes great pride and strength, something that Billy has caused me to aspire to accomplish.
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Marie-Julie Cnudde Bryngwyn School
“I’m just glad I’m healthy and moving well, … looking back, the injury was the best thing that could have happened to me. I had time to learn about myself. Now I have friends and a life off the road. This victory means more to me than the other wins here because of the injuries I’ve had in the past” Kim Clijsters will be playing for the first time in the Olympics this summer of 2012. Although she started her professional tennis career in 1997, she has not taken part in any of the previous Olympics for various reasons. Although Kim
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