Day 10: Goodbye, Unforgettable Beijing

From David Rotter, Scheck & Siress prosthetist:

How fast the time has flown!

I can’t believe it, but I am packing for the airport to return home to Chicago. This has been such a wonderful trip in so many ways. I got a chance to root for Melissa as she swam, representing our country. I also got a chance to see many different events and to learn about a different culture. I am very impressed by Beijing. It is a first-rate modern city.

This experience has instilled in me the desire to come back and visit more of this vast land. For now, I take my memories and experiences back home with me, memories I won’t forget.

Zai Jian (goodbye) from Beijing

Day 9: Melissa's Valiant Effort

From David Rotter, Scheck & Siress prosthetist:

The day that Melissa had been waiting for: today is the 400-meter free, which is Melissa’s strongest event. The morning session again is the qualifying session to make it to the finals, held the same day later in the evening.

We are now accustomed to waiting for her meet, which is second-to-last. Finally, Melissa comes out and our section erupts with cheer. The race begins and Melissa is off to a good start. This is a long race, making it possible for swimmers to improve their positions or get overtaken by a competitor’s surge.

Despite a valiant effort, Melissa finishes fifth in this race with one more meet in her S9 class to go. As we learned, the competition is very stiff. After the final race they put the qualifiers on the screen. As the names go up, it becomes clear that the competition is just too stiff and that Melissa’s time isn’t a qualifying time.

She finishes number 17. We are so proud of our champ! She defied all odds and made the Paralympic squad. She represented our country valiantly. At the end of the heat we got a chance to see Melissa. She got a supporting and comforting embrace from her husband, Dick, and a shoulder to grieve on.

We all got a chance to give Melissa a hug and tell her how proud of her we are. She is understandably disappointed. We all plan to go to the finals this evening to cheer on the American team.

During the evening session we got a chance to see Jessica Long get a gold medal. For the first time at an Olympic Games, I saw our flag raised and listened to The Star-Spangled Banner at an award ceremony. It was a very proud moment.

Melissa got a chance to sit with us and cheer for a bit. Every one in the American cheering section got a chance to congratulate her on the great accomplishment of being a Paralympian.

Day 8: Biking in Beijing

From David Rotter, Scheck & Siress prosthetist:

The morning is spent taking a bike tour of Beijing. It was great to get a feel for this mode of transportation used by many to get around the city. We had a nice tour guide who took us to different historical landmarks around the city.

The evening was spent at a Kun Fu Opera. The acrobatics were incredible and we all thoroughly enjoyed the show. Tomorrow is Melissa’s last day of swimming so we all get back to the hotel for the early start.

Day 7: Wheelchair Hoops & History

From David Rotter, Scheck & Siress prosthetist:

Observed a game of wheelchair basketball at the national indoor stadium. How impressive!

I was amazed how physical and fast the game is. Canada played Japan and won by a large margin. It was clear that the Canadian team, although older, had a lot more experience.

We spent the afternoon at Tiananmen Square and then the Forbidden City. Tiananmen is a large square surrounded by Chinese municipal museums, museums and ancient structures from the Ming Dynasty.

To the north is the famous portrait of Mao Zedong overlooking the square. That is the building where Mao proclaimed the New State of the People’s Republic of China. The Forbidden City was where China’s emperors lived. It is called forbidden because only the emperor and his subjects were allowed in its gates.

Day 6: The Bird's Nest (Part II)

From David Rotter, Scheck & Siress prosthetist:

Back at the Bird’s Nest for the evening meets. More amazing stuff to watch.

Out of sheer luck, I am there to watch “the race” between Oscar "Bladerunner" Pistorius, the double amputee from South Africa who attempted to make the Olympics, and Marlon Shirley, the reigning champ of the 100-meter race.

Tragically, Shirley pulled his Achilles tendon midway and fell to the ground. Pistorius just edged out the other American in the race to take gold. USA took silver and bronze.

Just a few races later, April Holmes, the American runner favored to win the 200, fell in the last 20 meters of her race. She was leading with a comfortable margin. A tough night for the American runners.

The highlight of the evening was China’s blind male 5,000-meter runner winning his race in dramatic fashion. The 90,000 who packed the stadium roared loudly in celebration. This is my only experience in the Bird’s Nest and I am sorry it is over at the end of the day.

Day 6: The Bird's Nest

From David Rotter, Scheck & Siress prosthetist:

Track and field: I finally get an opportunity to go in to the national stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest for its interesting architecture.

I have not ceased to be impressed by this incredible complex.

The national stadium is fantastic. Not a bad seat to be had in the house. We were able to watch long jump, shot put, discus, running events and wheel chair racing in the span of four hours.

What an incredible experience! The most moving of all was the blind runners running with their guides. It is just amazing to watch the two tethered together running down the track.

In the women’s 100-meter final, the Chinese competitor won and the stadium erupted in cheer.

During the medal ceremony, that competitor found her guide’s neck and put her Gold medal around him. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place.


It is now midday and they cleared the stadium for the evening events, which I can’t wait to get back to!

Day 5: Melissa's 2nd Race & Other Events

From David Rotter, Scheck & Siress prosthetist:

Melissa’s second race: Another morning and we are headed first thing to the Water Cube. We already know that Melissa swims last so the group is more comfortable settling to watch the different events. Another wonderful morning spent watching the different classes of swimmers compete.

Melissa’s category is S9, which has a lot of participants. When Melissa came out, she was greeted by the same very loud applause from our cheering section. Day 2 and we are still the loudest!

The race begins and so does the cheering! Melissa swims against steep competition and does great! Although her times are short for qualifying for the final, she swims a personal best.

Going in, Melissa knew this would be a challenging event as it proves to be. She shows improvement yet again, advancing to #18 in the world.

As a group we have a break from Melissa swimming events until Friday. Now it is time to experience some of the other venues and sports. After a morning of swimming, we ventured out of the main complex by bus to a separate complex where wheelchair tennis was taking place.

What amazing athletes! I can say with utmost certainty that if you put me against any of the competitors they would easily make quick work of me. I was so impressed by the coordination of hitting a ball and navigating in a chair at the same time. I think I said “wow” a lot!

The day is done and we are off to have dinner as a group in a more local setting in Beijing. Tomorrow I go to the national stadium for track and field.