Brave Hearts

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Eye Care Foundation

Page 86

11
The Brave Olympian
Robert, alias Bob B. Mathias, created history by winning the gold consecutively for two years in one of the most difficult events in the Olympics, namely, the decathlon, in which each competitor has to take part in ten different events. Not an easy thing indeed! More importantly, he was the first athlete in the entire history of the Olympic Games to have recorded this achievement.
But would you believe, even for a moment that in his childhood Bob had always been a sickly boy? He had an extremely weak physique and a pale body. He could not even sit properly till the age of 12. He had to be treated with radioactive rays. After every meal, he had to take rest. At the age of 14, his height was 5 ft. and 10 in. He was so weak that he could not participate in any school games. Instead, he used to play a trumpet or a bugle in the school band.
Bob's father was a doctor and a good football player too. He did not like his son being so weak and sickly.
One day Bob got annoyed with the fact that he was so weak and unhealthy. He decided to throw the sickness out once and for all and instead to become healthy and strong. He realised that as long as he was weak, no one would take note of him. That was the way the world acted towards such miserable creatures. He, therefore, decided to build his body. He started doing various kinds of physical exercises under the
85