10 Olympic Legends Who Found Another Job

10 Olympic Legends Who Found Another Job Wondering what you’ll do if or when one career ends? Ever thought about what it must be like to train your entire life to compete in one event and then have to come up with a second plan when age or injury forces your hand? Here are the second career paths of 10  of the most legendary Olympic athletes for inspiration- or commiseration.Ray EwryRay Ewry was one of those sporting miracles. Told he’d never walk after a childhood polio diagnosis confined him to a wheelchair, he went on not only to recover but to become one of the most successful Olympic athletes in history, participating in three consecutive Olympic games and winning 10  gold medals. His record of eight individual event golds was topped only by Michael Phelps.When Ewry’s athletic career ended (and he didn’t live in an era of lucrative sponsorship deals to keep him rich without having to work), he returned home and worked as an engineer. Some of the projects he worked on included an aqueduct from the Catskills to NYC and naval vessels for WWI.Jim ThorpeJim Thorpe was a dominant force in Track Field in the 1912 Games, but was stripped of his gold medals when news surfaced that he had been paid to play baseball professionally before going to the Olympics.After the Olympics, he served as the first president of the American Professional Football Association, which later became the NFL. Though, his second career derailed after the Great Depression and he never quite righted the boat, living out the rest of his days in poverty.Duke KahanamokuThe Godfather of surfing, Kahanamoku was an Olympic gold and silver medalist in swimming, competing in three different Games. His international tour would go on to bring surfing to the world stage- and would inspire the film â€Å"Duke: A Great Hawaiian.†In addition to this, he had a bit part acting career in Hollywood, plus some extra odd jobs (including being a janitor), and finally the ceremonial position of Sheriff of Honolul u.Paavo Nurmiâ€Å"The Flying Finn† won four golds over the course of as many Games. His second career turned out to be running  a sewing shop in downtown Helsinki. He also went on to be something of a real estate mogul in Helsinki. This path led to a comfortable life†¦even if he did  pass up a chance to buy the property that would later be purchased by Disney for their first theme park in Florida.Eric Liddellâ€Å"The Flying Scotsman† was a deeply Christian man, born to Scottish parents in China. He sat out a 100-meter heat on a Sunday, but went on to get the gold in the 400 the next day. Liddel went back to China after the Games to do missionary work and teaching until he was officially ordained as a minister in 1932. Very sadly, he would lose his life in a Japanese internment camp in 1945, after the war broke out.Johnny WeissmullerSwimmer turned actor and Hollywood heartthrob, Weismuller won five gold medals between the 1924 and 1928 Games. His was another success story of overcoming childhood polio. He would go on to be granted the role of Tarzan in Tarzan the Ape Man and made several other films. His third and fourth careers? Amateur golf and a swimming pool company.Jesse OwensOwens was one of the greatest Track Field athletes of all time. After winning four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Games, he was blacklisted from amateur competitions. He took work running against unruly racehorses. When asked if that was too degrading for an Olympic champion, he replied, â€Å"People say that it was degrading for an Olympic champion to run against a horse, but what was I supposed to do? I had four gold medals, but you can’t eat four gold medals.†Owens went on to run a dry cleaning business, work at a gas station, and, finally, became a U.S. goodwill ambassador.Bob MathiasMathias became a decathlon champion two months after he first tried the sport, and medaled in two consecutive Olympics (even though he’d originally gone for high jumping and shot put). After his Olympic victories, he joined the Marines, becoming a Captain. Later, he would star in a film, serve four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, and be named Deputy Director of the Selective Service.Emil ZatopekKnown as the â€Å"Czwch Locomotive,† Zatopek won the first marathon he ever participated in, at the 1952 Games. He also won the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races. He was a national hero until he fell afoul of his country’s Communist party and had to take dangerous work digging wells, mining uranium, and collecting refuse until he was finally rehabilitated in 1990.Wilma RudolphRudolph was considered the fastest woman alive in the 1960s. She was the first woman to win 3 golds in one Games in 1960. Another childhood polio survivor, she went on to teach second grade at her old school, and to coach track and do the occasional bit of television sports corresponding.

Asthma Essays - Respiratory Therapy, Asthma, Free Essays

Asthma Essays - Respiratory Therapy, Asthma, Free Essays Asthma subject = Heath title = Asthma Asthma What is Asthma ? Asthma is a disorder that affects 20% of Australians in their childhood. It causes airways to narrow making it difficult to breathe. Symptoms may include loss of breathe in cold weather, wheezing and whistling. It may occur periodically in sudden sharp attacks. When an attack occurs - The muscles around the wind pipe tighten shrinking the airways. The wind pipe lining then swells (picture) and a mucus called phlegm develops causing the cough to intensify and slightly more painful. What are the Causes and Triggers for asthma ? Attacks of Asthma occur due to a blockage in the bronchial tubes. This blockage results from a spasm that narrows the windpipe causing breathing difficulty for the sufferer. Asthma Triggers are things that make Asthma worse. Usual triggers are - Respiratory infections eg. Colds, flu, sore throats and bronchitis Allergic reactions sometimes cause Asthma eg. Pollen, foods, dust, animal fur or some seed. Air irritants (similar to Allergic reactions) eg. Cigarette smoke, gases or dust. Excessive/strenuous exercise can cause an Asthma attack. Emotional Stress can also trigger an Asthma attack. Symptoms of Asthma Symptoms include wheezing from the chest or a slight whistling is heard when inhaling. It's even louder when exhaling. Tightness of the chest, lung and lung area are closely associated with Asthma. Treatment for asthma There is no cure for Asthma but there are steps that doctors take to help relieve the symptoms of Asthma. As a first step doctors try to remove or get the patient to avoid Asthma triggers such as "animal dander" (eg. Fur or hairs). These are very likely to trigger an Asthma attack. Places where animals dwell are advised to be kept clear of for a sufferer. Since it is impossible to remove or avoid all triggers there are medications that can be taken. Such as - - Anti - Inflammatory Drugs : these reduce swelling of the windpipe and it's lining. Oral Steroids - prednisone and prednisolone quickly reduce inflammation during an attack. Inhaled medicines - such as cromoyln sodium and inhaled corticosteroids keep inflammation from flaring up. - Bronchodilators : relax the muscles which have tightened around the windpipe. Adrenergic bronchodilators ("Beta 2 agonists") provide temporary relief but do not treat inflammation. These are available as an Inhaler or a tablet form. Unfortunately the tablets are slower and have a few side affects. Theophylline is available in a liquid, capsule or tablet form. This drug has a long duration of action making it a very good soother for "night time" Asthma. Ways of preventing asthma There are no ways of preventing Asthma because it is usually genetic, allergically related or following a dose of bronchitis, but there are ways to prevent it from flaring up and turning into an attack. A sufferer can be very careful about his or hers diet because the diet can greatly affect the Asthma. Due to allergic reactions etc. Staying away from pollens and animal fur settles down Asthma. The allergic reactions are the highest causes of Asthma. Make sure you always have medication with you such as Intal and Becotide. These preventative medicines will stop an attack occurring. Summery For an Asthma sufferer breathing can sometimes be a great difficulty due to the fact that at any time their wind pipe can shrink due to inflammation, making it very hard to breathe. But with the right medication eg. Inhalers and Theophylline their life can be much easier. If they also stay away from triggers such as pollen, fur and cigarette smoke the air ways may not be so vulnerable. Even if you don't have Asthma you should keep an eye out for the symptoms which are - chest and lung tightness, wheezing and loss of breath especially in cold weather.