1 . Kurt, one of Australian most respected and recognized athletes, has won over 40 marathons, including New York, Chicago and London, in his career of more than 20 years. He became the first athlete with a disability to win The Don Award-given to honor those whose achievements inspire the whole nation — in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2018.

Kurt has always been determined. Being born without the lower part of his spine (脊椎) has never held him back, from backyard games of football to crewing an attractive Sydney to Hobart ship and winning dozens of marathons around the world.

Growing up in a large and loving family in the small town of Carcoar, Kurt was encouraged to make the most of every opportunity, and he did. He took on almost every challenge presented to him, encouraged by his parents. He even managed to move himself on his elbows up and down hills at an early age.

Turning his attention to wheelchair sports in his teens, Kurt quickly became a world beater. He started his career with two silver medals at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, before making his winning breakthrough at the 2004 Athens Paralympics with gold medals in the 5,000m and marathon races. Following the 2004 Paralympics, Kurt conquered the world, winning seven world championships and more than 30 marathons around the globe.

Kurt is a person who supports the rights of people with disabilities. He throws himself into a number of charitable activities. For example, in 2009, Kurt spent two weeks crawling (爬) the 96 kilometer Kokoda Track to raise awareness and money for people’s health charity.

While Kurt’s athletic career is over, his commitment (投入) to sports and support for people with disabilities live on in so many different forms. Kurt believes that people with disabilities should be given more opportunities.

3 . On March 11, 2011, 16-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu was skating at a local rink when the ice beneath him began cracking. He was experiencing 2011’s deadly Great East Japan Earthquake, which had a magnitude of 9.0 and killed at least 18,500 people. The event left him with a greater determination to make every day count.

He was introduced to the world of figure skating at the age of 4. As he watched his sister skate, her coach suggested that the energetic little boy give skating a try. He loved the sport and entered his first competition at age 10. By the time he was 19, Hanyu had won two Olympic gold medals. This achievement made him the first Asian skater in the men’s singles category to be an Olympic champion.

What sets Hanyu apart from other competitive figure skaters? At 53 kilograms, he’s thin. But Hanyu is very strong and able to perfectly perform jumps and moves on the ice that others can only attempt. Hanyu’s performances feature long, smooth and high leg kicks. As he glides effortlessly across the ice, he sometimes looks more like a ballet dancer than a figure skater.When people watch Hanyu perform, it’s clear how much he enjoys himself, and the audiences love him in return. After many performances, people in the crowd shower Hanyu with his loved Pooh Bears.

There’s no denying Hanyu’s star power on the ice, but he’s admired off the ice as well. Since the deadly earthquake, Hanyu has helped raise funds for victims. Over the past 10 years, he has also personally given about US$300,000 to help rebuild the local ice rink in Sendai, Hanyu’s hometown. The little boy who started out at his neighborhood rink is now adored by people from around the globe.

5 . Halfway through the women’s slalom event at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, 18-year-old Mikaela Shiffrin held a commanding lead over the greatest women’s slalom skiers in the world. On her final run, she burst from the start house at top speed, zigzagging around the poles. Suddenly, her left ski slid out, causing her to temporarily lose control. It seemed as if her dreams of a gold medal might slide down the mountain, out of her reach. But in the blink of an eye, Mikaela stopped her mini-skid and rocketed through the rest of her run. She became the youngest slalom skier ever to win an Olympic gold medal.

Skiing has always been a big part of Mikaela’s life. At two and a half years old, Mikaela made her first ski run down her steep driveway on plastic skis. From ages 8 to 11, she worked hard, repeating hundreds of training runs on small hills to learn the correct techniques. When Mikaela was 11, she enrolled at the Burke Mountain Academy, a Vermont boarding school for skiers.

According to headmaster Kirk Dwyer, “What separated Mikaela from others was the degree of her commitment to be the best. Mikaela practiced more than anyone and believed in herself then and now.” At age 14, Mikaela began her international career when she raced in the world championships for 13-and 14-year-olds. And she won! By the time she was 17, she had already won her first World Cup race.

For Mikaela, working hard is a full-time job. In the summer, when Mikaela is off the ski slopes and in the gym, her daily training consists of six to seven hours of weightlifting, core body work, and biking to improve her strength and agility.

“If you’re passionate about your goals, whatever they are,” she says, “there’s no limit to what you can achieve. Give it your all!”