Deaflympics Is A 'LEGITIMATE', Global Tournament
“The Deaflympics has been around for almost 90 years, and it's a LEGITIMATE, global tournament with an opening ceremony, medals, and drug testing.”
It was what a one-time Deaflympian soccer player, Lindsey Dolich (Felt), said during the 2008 interview with Deadspin (a sports blog.)
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “legitimate” as “conforming to recognized principles or accepted rules and standards.”
In her Deaflympic experience, Lindsey, then a junior at Haverford College, helped the USA team to win the gold medal in the Women’s Soccer sport in the 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia, by tallying three assists and heading in a goal. She teased the Deadspin reporter that she was the Carli Lloyd of the women's deaf soccer team. It was the first year women's soccer was included as a Deaflympic sport. Could you read the excellent article about her? (Scroll down to page 25.)
“Lindsey never saw what she had as a disability. People don’t even know she’s hard of hearing. She would still choose this life for herself.” - Caryn Dolich, Lindsey’s non-deaf twin sister.
Nope, I have not met Lindsey. Well, the Melbourne Games was the only one I did not attend, although I have been at 13 of the last 14 Deaflympics since 1969.
I had not heard of her until yesterday morning when I typed “Deaflympics” on the search box of the Deadspin website. It got two hits! One is about Lindsey.
All I need is to know why she used “legitimate”! Does she refer to the United States Olympic (and Paralympic) Committee for refusing to recognize the Deaflympics?
We hope the word “legitimate” could cause the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics (CSUSOP) to consider requesting Congress to amend the Deaflympics into the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 1998.
Currently, Dr. Lindsey D. Felt is a lecturer in the Writing and Rhetoric Program at Stanford University.
On behalf of hundreds of USA Deaflympians, I thank Lindsey for getting guts by mentioning “legitimate.”
The greatest joy I've had is watching them play, especially watching Lindsey walk into the stadium in Melbourne with the U.S. team. She is the only one in the family with a gold medal," said Father Andy Dolich, who then was vice president of business operations for the Oakland Athletics when the A's won the World Series in 1989.
Howard “Howie” Gorrell attended 13 of the last 14 Deaflympics since 1969 and is a 2004 recipient of the USADSF Jerald M. Jordan Award, given to those who exhibit leadership and continuous participation toward the goals of the Deaflympics and the 2011 Art Kruger Award for demonstrating leadership and constant participation, support and contribution in the USADSF over an extended period.