Play It Again

The best sports stories combine the classic elements of rooting for the underdog and the triumph of unflagging determination in the face of ceaseless adversity. Those aspects have rarely been displayed in a purer form than in the cases of the two disabled athletes who will share their inspiring true-life stories at From Tragedy to Triumph, tonight from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Aurora Central Library, 14949 East Alameda Parkway.

Trish Downing, a competitive cyclist who was injured in a car accident, has since become the first female paraplegic to complete an iron distance triathlon and qualify for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. Jason Regier, also injured in a car accident, is a captain of the Denver Harlequins Wheelchair Rugby team and will attend the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games as a member of the U.S team. The uncompromising nature of these competitors' sports — the triathlon is a notoriously grueling, ultra-demanding event requiring incredible strength and stamina, and wheelchair rugby is a high-intensity, violent sport affectionately known as "murderball" — is a powerful testament to the ability of disabled people to overcome their challenges, not to mention one hell of a great sports story.

Admission is free, and light refreshments will be served. For more information, call the library at 303-739-6600 or visit www.auroralibrary.org.
Wed., March 12, 6-7:30 p.m., 2008