Glenn Cunningham was 7 years old when a fire almost killed him, but at least survived, though badly burned. The doctors had decided to amputate his legs, condemning him to a life in a wheelchair. Glenn objected fiercely and told the doctors ‘I want to enjoy life by walking and running, not by spending my entire life in a wheelchair.’ After two years of therapy and perseverance, Glenn started to walk, struggling to keep on his feet at first, but he was determined not to give up completely. He kept walking, then jogging and finally running slowly. He ran so well that he joined an athletic club and eventually was chosen to represent the USA and entered the Olympics held in Berlin in 1936. And what the doctors had deemed impossible, Glenn surprised everyone as he won the silver medal in the 1500 meters. In 1974 he was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
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