Paralympian shows kids they can compete despite disability

AUGUSTA, GA (WFXG) - Don't ever tell Scott Winkler he can't do something.

"There's no difference in an abled body and a disabled body," says Winkler. "It's just we do it in a different form."

Not only is the Augustan the first man injured in the Iraq War to make the United States Paralympic Team, Winkler also holds the U.S. Paralympic Record in shotput. Winkler set the record in 2008, during his 5th place finish in the Paralympics in Beijing.

But today, Winkler was teaching, coaching, and showing other people like that anything is possible.

"It's just inspiring people that's the key thing in life," Winkler says.

Winkler was a part of the Paralympic Experience, an event hosted by U.S. Paralympics and Champions Made From Adversity.

It gave several people opportunities to learn skills in paralympic sports, such as track and field and sit volleyball.

Winkler says sports helps disabled people in many different ways.

"Mentally, physically, emotionally," says Winkler. "It gives you another chance to get out and trying new things in life."

Many at today's event were children. Winkler says being able to play sports and compete builds their confidence.

"Sports give them that extra edge in life to say, 'Oh, I can do that. I can accomplish goals just like any other kid,'" Winkler says.

One of the kids participating is Cole Wooten.

Cole attended last year's Paralympic Experience and began training with Winkler.

Cole says, since then, he's learned a lot about himself.

"Just to be able to do something that other kids can do," says Wooten. "I just do it in a different way."

Cole began competing in March, and in his very first event, he took first place in shotput, discus, and javelin.

He says he hopes to be an inspiration to other kids like himself.

"I'd like to show other kids that even though you're in a chair, it's not the end of the world," Wooten says.

And after his multiple first-place finishes, Cole is aiming to follow in his coach's footsteps- all the way to the Paralympics.

"That's probably one of my dreams," Cole says.

And the competitions aren't over for Winkler.

Next week, he heads to Guadalajara, Mexico for the 2011 Para Pan Am Games, and then returns to training for the 2012 Paralympics in London.

"I'm sitting 5th right now," says Winkler. "I don't like that. I want to be number one, and bring back all the medals to the U.S."

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Scott Winkler
• Iraq War
• Vetaren
• Wheelchair
• disabled
• Disability
• Paralympian
• paralympic sports
• Augusta Georgia
• Paralympic Experience
• Cole Wooten
• Amputee
• Double Below Knee Amputee
• sit volleyball
• track and field
• discus