Professor Sir Ludwig 'Poppa' Guttmann CBE FRS is known as the father of the Paralympic movement. He was the medical pioneer who proved that disabled sport could be as competitive and exciting as non-disabled sport.
Guttmann was born in Tost, Germany (now Toszek, Poland) on this day, 3 July 1899 and went on to receive his M.D. in 1924.
Google Doodle:
He began research on spinal cord injuries and performed several neurosurgical procedures, rising to prominence as one of Germany’s top neurosurgeons by his early thirties.
However, with the rise of the Nazi party and the passing of the Nuremberg Laws in 1933, Guttmann was prevented from practising medicine professionally. Following Kristallnacht in 1938 and the increasing persecution of Jews in Germany, Guttmann was forced to leave Germany with his family and was able to escape to England in 1939.
In 1948, he organized a 16-person archery contest, one of the first official competitive sporting events for wheelchair users. Later called the Stoke Mandeville Games or the “Olympics for the Disabled,” the competition demonstrated the power of elite sport to break down barriers for disability and garnered the attention of global medical and sporting communities.
In 1960, Guttmann facilitated the International Stoke Mandeville Games, following the 1960 Summer Olympics, the first of many Paralympic Games.
He received numerous accolades for his contributions, the highest among which was being knighted by Her Majesty the Queen in 1966.
Today, Paralympic athletes are rightfully recognized for their skills and achievements.
The Paralympic Games continue to be a driving force for promoting the rights and independence of people with disabilities, with a lasting impact on equal treatment and opportunity.
Resouces:
Founder of the Paralympic Movement, Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann was the medical pioneer who created the first Paralympic Games.
Invite your students in-person lessons or remote learning to learn more about his story and legacy on Google Arts & Culture.
Oops! I forgot to write about the posts of April, and May. Let's do it ! The world continues to be affected by severe pandemic restrictions. In so many countries schools are always closed or reopen and reclosed schools. Millions of students don't have access to in-person lessons.
In Portugal, in-person classes with hybrid teaching finished last days of June. Only Secondary schools and Universities continue for the exams.
Here are the most popular posts of April:
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