Wheelchair Games Open In Omaha

Once again, hundreds of athletes are in Omaha for a national competition. The National Veterans Wheelchair Games opened Saturday at the Qwest Center.

The event has drawn some 500 athletes from across the country and Great Britain. One of the participants, Scott Winkler, met with President Bush just last week.

Basketball is not his usual sport, but his fans don't care. "So I've got 11 signatures on all of these things and I'd sure like the 12th one," said a fan. Signing autographs is second nature these days for Winkler. Come September, he will be part of Team USA at the Paralympics in Beijing.

"I thank God for me being here to this day and it gives me a second chance in life. I mean for me as a Paralympian, it gives me one more chance to put on a uniform for my country."

Winkler wore an Army uniform for eight years. "I was injured in Iraq in 2003." When he lost the use of his legs, he says he lost his spirit, but only briefly. "Okay, I'm put in this chair for a reason and I figured out my reason was to inspire people."

He started a nonprofit organization in his home state of Georgia, Champions Made From Diversity. The organization helps disabled people enrich their lives through sports, much like the Veterans Wheelchair Games.

Winkler has taken home four medals in past Wheelchair Games. Playing basketball for fun, he's set world records in shot put and American records in discus. He has the distinction of being the first Iraqi war vet to join the Paralympic team.

"People need to understand, hey, it's not the end of the world. You can do whatever you want, but you just don't sit back and let it go by."

While it's clear he's a celebrity around here, Winkler says it's the other way around. "It's a great honor being amongst all of these veterans. I mean if it wasn't for these veterans, we wouldn't have freedom to this day."

It's even more amazing that Winkler has set records in shot put and discus when you consider he's only been at those sports for a year-and-a-half. He says his motto is "believe and achieve" and he's proof of that.

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