Swimming the Hangang

[Anchor Lead]

Swimming across the Hangang River with your is a stiff challenge even for those of us in pretty good shape. People with physical disabilities have taken up the challenge of swimming across the two kilometer wide Hangang River to show off their skills and training.

[Pkg]

Some 100 disabled people and safety guards are gathered at a Hangang River park. They warm up and shout chants to boost their morale.

[Soundbite] Kim Beom-ho(Disabled Participant) : "I hope everyone completes the race. Go swimmers!"

With careful steps, the swimmers move up to the starting line. All at once, they begin to swim. Their goal is to complete the race. They are determined to cross the 1.6 kilometer wide river without giving up. Some 50 safety officials accompanied the 50 disabled swimmers as they showed off the results of their training and practice. Despite the physical toll, they never lost their smiles.

[Soundbite] "I'm happy for this chance to swim in the Hangang River before I die."

It took about half an hour to reach the finish line. The participants grinned happily with the sense of accomplishment.

[Soundbite] An Hyeong-seok(Disabled Participant) : "We are called 'disabled men.' But we can do it. We are 'enabled men.'"

[Soundbite] Go Jae-min(Safety Official) : "I came away learning a lot from the event as we swam together. These people have radiant hearts."

The day brimmed with a can-do spirit that transcended the walls of disabilities.