Les Croupiers Running Club

I have just finished reading her book and I could not put it down! It is very inspiring. I did not realise how bad the paralympics were before the Atlanta games and how much arguments there were with Learning Disablitiy as LD athletes do not have a proper classification system and as well as some people cheating to get in when it is suppose to an elite event therefore selected to take part. The arguments are still on going to day. Tanni not against the LD athletes but she and her fellow athletes wants to be seen as elite athletes in their own right which is only right as they train as hard as anyone else. The difference between the paralympics and the special Olympics is that the special Olympics is more about taking part than competing. I often thought it was disappointing that the paralympics do not get the same TV courage as the Olympics themselves. It also made me questioned why there is not more done for wheelchair athletes to compete at a lot more road races.

If you haven't read her book I recommend you do if I had known that she doesn't like giving people her autograph I never would of asked! I have met her twice and she is very nice, mostly but importantly happy to talk to anyone who wishes to talk.

the paralimpic commitee are more discrimitary amongst themselves than anyone else. they won't let Loretta and her like run in marathons when she has beaten the germans time that they have registered at least three times.

At he paralympics athletes complete in classes with those with the same disabilities which means that Tami Grey-Thompson completes against athletes with the same body strength as her. The argument with LD sport is that LD sports didn't have a proper classification system and that many LD athletes also competed at a very higher level in mainstream sports which is why it threw into questioned why some of the LD athletes were allowed to compete. Learning difficulties can also vary from country to country as well as what is viewed as learning difficulty. At the Sidney Olympics it has be proved that many LD athletes were also cheating.

At the paralympics athletes complete in classes with those with the same disablities which means that Tami Grey-Thompson completes against athletes with the same body strength as her. The argument with LD sport is that LD sports didn't have a proper classification system and that many LD athletes also competed at a very higher level in mainstream sports which is why it throught into questioned why some of the LD athletes were allowed to compete. Learning difficulties can also vary from country to country as well as what is viewed as learning difficulty. At the Sidney olypmics it has be proved that many LD athletes were also cheating.

I have been a volunteer at a special Olympics event. I was in charged of the ten pin bowlng event.all the entrants had various disabilities from being blind to various forms of mental problems. it was the best two weeks that I have spent in helping people who want to be treated as not special.
when I finished at the ten pin bowling I went to Leckwith to watch the track events, which is taken more seriously, they have different categories like the paralympics, as you improve you move up a grade. the coaches know this, the thing is like anyone who puts a number on you will exceed your expectations. which is the coaches downfall because if the runner does 10% better than there registered best time they will be disqualified.
there are exceptions if the entrant has only been running for one or two years when you would expect them to get better faster.

there is cheating in all forms of sport. which is a shame

Tracey,
You are spot on with your description of Tanni. Back in the 90's, I got quite friendly with her, mainly by training at Leckwith on the same night. On behalf of the club, I invited her to our annual club dinner dance and she was our guest of honour on two occasions. It was only her very full engagement book that stopped her from attending more. She is one of the most honest and truthful person's that I have ever met and what is says on the tin, you get. The only problem is, by writing these memories, it makes me feel really old and yet they seem like only yesterday. Life passes very quickly, when you enjoy it.

Tell me about it! I'm beginning to feel old. It's a shame that certain people had terrible attitudes to people with disabilities otherwise I would of met Tanni at school and it might of encourage me more. Any chance of inviting her again to the club?