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Shirley Set to Try for More Records at USG Track and Field Meet Friday
Thursday, June 17, 2004
World class athlete and Paralympic six gold Medalist Marlon Shirley has returned to compete in the 19th-annual Utah Summer Games in the 100-meter dash on Friday.
Shirley competed last year in the 100-m dash and broke the world, Paralympic and Utah Summer Games record in the adaptive 100-m dash with a time of 10.97.
Shirley currently holds the world record in the long jump at 22 feet 3 inches, 100-m and the 200-m at 22.45 also set last year at the Utah Summer Games, though it is only recognized as an American record. Because of his efforts at the Utah Summer Games Shirley earned national and world attention winning an “ESPY” award presented by ESPN.
A native Utahn, Shirley was 3-years-old when his mother abandoned him and was put into a foster home. At age 5 he lost his foot while jumping on and off a riding lawn mower when he slipped under it. Shirley was later adopted at age 9.
Shirley’s amputated foot never let him stop playing sports. While in high school he played football but because of an injury while playing football resulted in further amputation of this lower section of his leg.
“The hardest things in my life have made me the strongest,” Shirley said.
Shirley didn’t start out as a sprinter, he first was a high jumper but after signing endorsements after turning pro he started sprinting.
“I have always had the gene in me to take an adversity and turn it into a triumph, so to me it just was that way,” Shirley said. “Even in my adult years now it makes me who I am today and it’s helped me further my life especially where I want to go with it.”
With this year’s theme of the USG Shirley exceeds the level of Raise the Bar.
“I think he embodies the whole concept of Raise the Bar,” said Kyle Case, Executive Director of the Utah Summer Games. “He’s found himself under circumstances that he wouldn’t prefer, and yet totally risen above those things and truly raised the bar.”
Shirley currently trains in San Diego. He will be competing in Athens this summer at the 2004 Paralympic Games in the 100-m, 200-m, long jump and the 4x100-m and 4x400-m relays. After the Olympics he hopes to win gold medals at Beijing but also at the Summer Games in 2008.
“I did it last year and hopefully if the wind is blowing the right way we will do that again this year,” Shirley added “I prepared for it and I hope people come out and watch the events.”
Case said Shirley has given him some hope while he is getting ready to compete in the triathlon.
“He’s an inspiration to everybody,” Case said. “I am inspired by the things he has done, and I am looking forward to trying to do my best as well.”
Shirley reminds athletes and those with challenges in there life to have fun while playing in the summer games.
“Competition is an opportunity to have a life style it is not the last thing in the world, and that being the case, sports brings health, it brings education and it brings an opportunity and that’s what it’s done for me, and I encourage that for all,” Shirley said.
Case said Shirley has given more to people then he really thinks.
“Marlon has proven that there is no limitation, it’s your mind set and you determine what you want and what you go for, and he’s been a great example of that,” Case said.
Labels: History
