Sarah Reinertsen – "Tougher Than the Rest"
Sarah Reinertsen is an incredible athlete, having competed in and finished one of the world’s most grueling races – the Ironman Triathlon World Championship. Although this would be a tremendous feat for anyone, it is even more amazing for Sarah. That’s because Sarah is an amputee!
When Sarah was a young girl, her left leg had to be amputated above the knee due to a tissue disease she had been born with. But Sarah always had a love of athletics, and so she became determined to succeed as an athlete despite her disability. She knew she needed to be, as she puts it, “tougher than the rest”. With the extraordinary success she has achieved as an Ironman triathlete, she has proven that she is just that!
In this video, Sarah tells her amazing story.
Additional Resources:
- Here is the offical website for Sarah, where you can learn more about her and her great accomplishments!
- Here is another IMK post about a truly inspirational disabled athlete.
Topics for Discussion:
- What do you think made Sarah so determined to achieve her great athletic success?
- What would it be like to be an amputee? How would your life be different than it is now?
Take Action:
- Visit the Athletes with Disabilities Network website to learn more about these tremendous athletes and how you can help support them!
- Visit the Livestrong website’s Sports Programs for Disabled Children page to learn more about these programs and how you can get involved!
Teacher Features:
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.
