1. Once Told He’d Never Walk Again, Irish Gymnast Is Now Olympian (New York Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/sports/olympics/against-odds-kieran-behan-of-ireland-to-compete-in-3-gymnastics-events.html?pagewanted=2&ref=world

On July 26th, New York Times sports reporter Juliet Macur wrote a brief, but insipiring article about the life of the Irish gymnast Kieran Behan. The author introduced Kieran Behan as a young six year old boy telling his mother how he was determined to become a gymnast without even knowing anything about the unexpected series of events that lay ahead of him in his life. Among many injuries such as a broken arm, a fractured wrist, and a torn ligament, the two major ones that had greatest effect in his life were a leg operation that caused nerve damage, and a traumatic brain injury that didn't allow him do the most basic everyday actions, such as sitting or eating. Though doctors kept telling Behan to give up on his dream as an athlete, he refused to do so. Through determination and effort, Behan finally regained both his strength and coordination after two years, and soon, he went back to gymnastics. The final paragraphs relate to Behan's experience in the London Olympics, and though he does not really expect to make the finals, he wishes that his story might inspire others to overcome their hardships, no matter where. The author ended the article with a strong quote from the gymnast himself saying "I think it's propbably just in my blood. I was just born to do this."


Juliet Macur's purpose in this article is to not only inform the reader about the life of an athelete who went through a lot of difficult situations, but also to influece readers how determination can lead to great results. The author also quoted sayings from Behan's mother, giving some emotion to the article. The author's tone in this passage can be best described as admiration and reverence to the athelete because of how strongly Behan kept on pursuing his dream despite the fact that people were hopeless for him and no one else really supported him along the way. This article was effective in the way that it left the reader inspired and encouraged to overcome his or her hardships.