Accidents are tragic. But when God closes a door for you, he would open a window.
When wheelchair shooters Matt Skelhon and Lee Ji-Seok, who were both disabled in car accidents, stood on the Paralympic podium of gold medal, many people might think this way.
With a Mohican hair style, the 24-year-old British Skelhon maybe the most distinctive shooter in the final hall of mixed 10-meter air rifle prone.
His qualification score, a full mark of 600, was equally distinctive.
The final was without too much suspension, while the fashionable young man in wheelchair scored all his ten shots above 10, half of which above 10.5. With a score of 704.9, Skelhon could wrap up his first Paralympic tour successfully.
His mother Mary Skelhon cheered and waved fists after the final in excitement. "I am always proud of him," she said.
Formerly a greenkeeper, Skelhon injured his spine in a car accident three years ago, and later he separated with his girlfriend.
Although the man just started shooting two years ago, he "doesn't want to go home without a gold" this time, according to his mom.
"I actually put a lot of pressure on myself," said the shooter himself.
Mary disclosed that Skelhon had met a German girl during competitions, but the future was undecided.
"He is the kind of person living for the moment," the doting mother smiled, adding that currently, shooting is priority.
In comparison, South Korean shooter Lee Ji-Seok with a wife and a child to be born was more like a "future version" of Skelton.
Throughout the final of mixed 10-meter air rifle standing SH2, a pretty young lady was standing behind him and helping him with the loading before each shot, whom people know later as his wife, with a six-month pregnancy.
"When she helped me loading, it was the loveliest moment. I feel that my unborn child was there watching and cheering for me as well," said the reticent champion who chalked up a Paralympic record equaling 704.3 point, the corners of his mouth lifted in happiness.
To his wife, the champion said, "I give you my heart-felt gratitude."
Lee, 34, had been a taekwondo coach before he had a traffic accident in 2001.
His life was saved, but he can't walk anymore and his arms are stiff.
When he was in hospital after the accident, someone told him that a nurse insisted on meeting him.
"At first, I didn't like the idea of meeting a stranger," he said with a smile, casting a glimpse at Park, who was busy helping him with the urine test.
But later, he felt his decision was absolutely correct.
"She is a really kind-hearted person, the type that I like," he admitted.
Now Lee has a happy family that will be expanded in four months, and owns an online store selling ladies' clothes, with his wife being the model.
"I couldn't hold back my tears after seeing such touching scene," said a Chinese netizen on the website, "wish them happiness ever after."
People say that after rainstorm there is a rainbow. Hopefully a better tomorrow would be in store for the adamant shooters.
(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2008)