Nine Gold Medals
A race that ended in a way no one expected
The full poem is below — eight short stanzas that tell a story. Tap any line to hear it. Read it once just for the story; the turn comes in stanzas 5 and 6, and it will surprise you only if you've forgotten what kind of Games this is.
The athletes had come from all over the country / To run for the gold, for the silver, and bronze. Many weeks and months of training / All coming down to these games. The gathered around the old field / To cheer on all the young women and men. The final event of the day was approaching / Excitement was high to begin.
The blocks were all lined up for those who would use them / The hundred-yard dash and the race to be run. These were nine athletes in the back of the starting line / for the sound of the gun. The signal was given, the pistol exploded / And so did the runners all charging ahead. But the smallest among them, he and / And fell to the instead.
He gave out a cry of frustration and / His dreams and his efforts in the dirt. The eight other runners / The ones who had trained for so long to compete. One by one they all turned round and went back to help him / And brought the young boy to his feet.
Then all the nine runners joined hands and continued / The hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk. And a banner above that said 'Special Olympics' / Could not have been more . That's how the race ended, with nine gold medals / They came to the finish line holding hands still. And a and nine faces / Said more than these words ever will.
Match each stanza to its gist (which stanza number?).
Which stanza describes the eight athletes STOPPING to help the fallen boy?
Which stanza shows the race ENDING with all nine winning gold, holding hands?
Q1.What happens at the start of the race?
The full poem is below — eight short stanzas that tell a story. Tap any line to hear it. Read it once just for the story; the turn comes in stanzas 5 and 6, and it will surprise you only if you've forgotten what kind of Games this is.
The athletes had come from all over the country / To run for the gold, for the silver, and bronze. Many weeks and months of training / All coming down to these games. The gathered around the old field / To cheer on all the young women and men. The final event of the day was approaching / Excitement was high to begin.
The blocks were all lined up for those who would use them / The hundred-yard dash and the race to be run. These were nine athletes in the back of the starting line / for the sound of the gun. The signal was given, the pistol exploded / And so did the runners all charging ahead. But the smallest among them, he and / And fell to the instead.
He gave out a cry of frustration and / His dreams and his efforts in the dirt. The eight other runners / The ones who had trained for so long to compete. One by one they all turned round and went back to help him / And brought the young boy to his feet.
Then all the nine runners joined hands and continued / The hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk. And a banner above that said 'Special Olympics' / Could not have been more . That's how the race ended, with nine gold medals / They came to the finish line holding hands still. And a and nine faces / Said more than these words ever will.
Match each stanza to its gist (which stanza number?).
Which stanza describes the eight athletes STOPPING to help the fallen boy?
Which stanza shows the race ENDING with all nine winning gold, holding hands?
Q1.What happens at the start of the race?