Inspiring Moments

They are the ones who best express the Olympic Spirit, taking part is always more important than winning.

The road to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games might be bumpy for many but surely no tougher than that of these athletes.

These names are to be remembered, glittering, like gold medals, in the Olympic memory.

See also...

·Unforgettable Ones

·One World One Dream

·Touching Moments

·Gold Medalists

Olympic Games

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Natalie Du Toit, South Africa

Du Toit, whose left leg was amputated in 2001 after she was injured in a road accident, is an athlete for both Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and Paralympic Olympics.

Eric Shanteau, U.S.

Shanteau was diagnosed with testicular cancer June 19, a week before he left for the U.S. swim trials. But he put off the decision to have surgery until after the Games, his 1st and last Olympics.

Somalia Olympic team

For Somalis watching the Olympic Games opening ceremony on television, there was little thought of medals, just pride at seeing their team in Beijing at all.

Natalia Partyka, Poland

The Polish player, who was born with a right arm that ends at the elbow, is the reining Paralympic champion. Now she is one of the only two athletes competing in both events in Beijing.

Maarten van der Weijden, Netherlands

Dutchman Maarten van der Weijden said the experience of beating cancer helped him win an Olympic gold medal after victory in the men´s 10 kilometres open water marathon swim.

Robina Muqimyar, Afghan

It didn´t matter that she finished dead last with a time of 14.80, all that counted was experiencing Olympic values as a representative of her conflict-torn country.

Iraqi Olympic team

Not all Olympic dreams are about winning gold medals. For some competitors, like the three who represented Iraq at the Beijing Games, simply taking part is reward enough.