Talk of the Olympics

13 April 2012
How the fall of Saddam helped Ali live the dream

One of the more emotional moments of the Athens Games should happen tonight at the Peristeri Boxing Hall. For as long as he can remember it has been Najah Ali's dream to enter the ring at an Olympics, but growing up in the shadow of Saddam Hussein's evil regime in Iraq meant that dream was never likely to be realised. Saddam's fall, and the subsequent revival of Iraq's boxing programme by former American world championship contender Maurice "Termite" Watkins, has changed all that. Ali, who will go in the light-flyweight division against Hyok Ju Kwak of Korea, said: "There are some bad people in Iraq but there are many, many good people. All my friends and my family have supported me. That is why this is so big for me."

Mason's bad career move

Many people's eyes must still be watering in sympathy with Great Britain hockey player Simon Mason. Hockey goalkeepers wear thick padding covering nearly every part of their body as protection against that little hard ball. However, during yesterday's defeat to Korea one shot found a vital chink in the armour and Mason collapsed to the ground doubled up in agony. He recalled: "I had an intake of breath as I realised I had been hit in a sensitive area really hard. Sometime it hits you and it hurts and this was one of those times."

Tony's miracle recovery

Talk doffs it's little rubber cap to all water polo players, a breed of sportsmen who have to be particularly focused and determined in order to stay afloat when the going gets physical in the pool. But none has shown more determination in Athens than Brazil-born Tony Azevedo who now competes for the United States. At the age of five, Azevedo fell and tore open his throat while attempting to climb a metal fence. He was airlifted to hospital but after he stopped breathing for two minutes doctors warned his family he would require the use of a respirator for the rest of his life. Incredibly, the lad fully recovered within eight months and within three years he was playing baseball, basketball, football, volleyball and, later at high school, water polo. "I showed them," he said. "My motto is: you can overcome anything."

Pitch up for beauty Finch

The athletes' village is awash with magnificent examples of the human figure, both male and female. Inevitably it's the Americans who are cashing in on their good looks. They don't come better looking than Amanda Beard, the breast stroker, who has posed for Maxim and FHM magazines. Jennie Finch (above) runs her close. The softball pitcher was named one of People magazine's '50 Most Beautiful' in May. And then there's Dain Blanton, the male beach volleyball gold medallist in Sydney, who was a finalist in the reality TV show The Bachelor.

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