Brit Canuck
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NEWS: Paralympic Fencing Athlete Defends Olympic Torch From Protestors
You'll probably be hearing a lot about this over the next few days, but earlier today (March 8th), a disabled fencing athlete taking part in the Olympic Torch relay in Paris, France was suddenly approached by a protestor supporting the democracy movement in Tibet.
While this forum is not the place to discuss world politics, I thought that her courage as she protected the torch from being stolen deserved a mention. Her name is Jin Jing, and she's scheduled to participate in the Paralympic Games in Bejiing, a week or two after the Olympics wrap up.
A young Chinese torchbearer captured thousands of Chinese hearts yesterday when she protected the Olympic torch from repeated assaults by Tibetan activists in Paris.
Jin Jing, 27, known as the "Smiling Angel in a Wheelchair" by her friends, is herself an athlete, a fencer. She was supposed to be the third torchbearer on the Paris route, but the plan was changed because of the chaotic protests. The torch was eventually passed to her on the banks of the Seine River.
But before she could take the flame several protestors threw themselves at Jin and her two companions, one of whom is blind. Jin appeared a little scared but protected the torch from the activists, who were then dragged away by French police.
Jin Jing told the press she was very upset and angry when the incident happened. Today her image was published on many online forums and news sites, accompanied by messages of support from ordinary Chinese people who praised her bravery and condemned the brutality of her attackers.
Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the disruptions of the torch relay in London and Paris as an assault on the Olympic spirit.
http://www.china.org.cn/olympics/torch/2008-04/08/content_14576760.htm
The fifth leg of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay kicked off at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, at 12:30 (GMT +2) on April 7. Here, a 27-year-old woman named Jin Jing, the third torchbearer in the relay, garnered much attention from media for her bravery.
A wheelchair user, Jin of Shanghai, China, had been repositioned one kilometer off the original course due to last minute modifications to the route.
Carrying the torch on the new course along the Seine River, Jin demonstrated great valor when a "pro-Tibet independence" activist, attempting to disrupt and sabotage the torch relay, reached for her wheelchair and lunged toward her. Without concern for her own safety, Jin did her best to protect the flame, her face exhibiting courage and pride in spite of the chaotic situation.
In that moment, it was easy to see why her friends call her the "smiling angel in a wheelchair."
But her bravery is not incidental. In 1989, when Jin was in third grade, a malignant tumor was found in her ankle, leading to amputation of part of her leg. She later returned to school after a year of chemotherapy. Refusing to use a cane for fear that she would get in people's way, Jin insisted on getting around on one foot. Her persistence would lead to a lot of pain, but she would survive.
Successfully battling cancer, Jin would even become a member of the Shanghai Wheelchair Fencing Team in 2001.
Being selected as a Lenovo torchbearer "feels like a dream," according to Jin. "God closed one door but opened another -- happiness is the best gift you can give yourself," said the optimistic Jin.
http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/paris/news/n214297268.shtml
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4/8/2008, 3:59 pm
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WaffenSS
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Re: NEWS: Paralympic Fencing Athlete Defends Olympic Torch From Protestors
Jin Jing, I click my heels to you! You are truly a lady I'd like to take hunting with me!
The protester(s) actions were cowardly, they hurt only their cause. Freeing Tibet was not advanced one bit by their misconduct.
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7/29/2009, 3:19 pm
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