Houstin Gardiner's Victory Over Disabilities

Oct. 9, 2007 — -- For 14-year-old Houstin Gardiner, every cartwheel and dismount completed by this Special Olympics gymnast from Texas is a victory over disabilities many thought insurmountable.

Gardiner, the child of a drug addict, fell victim to shaken baby syndrome. When Maure and William Gardiner adopted him, he had five broken ribs and a hole in his heart.

"He just sat there with a blank stare on his face, and there was no response. No laughing, no crying," Maure said.

The Gardiners took their son to doctors and physical therapists. He endured many surgeries over the years and slowly, Gardiner turned into the young man he is today.

"Still people think I'm slow, but I can catch up really easily on stuff," the gymnast said.

And some may say he has more than caught up. This week, Gardiner competed in the Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China. Facing the best gymnasts he's ever come up against, Gardiner overcame his physical and mental disabilities to take gold in the vault and silver in the rings.

"I'm proving to people that just because we are 'special needs' doesn't mean that we can't be normal," Gardiner said.

Many would argue that this young man has done more than that -- he's proved that "special needs" individuals can accomplish extraordinary things.