Nine Gold Medals
For nine special athletes, with nine beaming faces.” — David Roth
Reflect and Respond
Empathy · Sympathy · Compassion
Stanza Gist — Correct Sequence
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| dashed in the dirt | destroyed |
| stumbled | Step awkwardly, lose balance and almost fall |
| staggered | Walk or move with difficulty |
| anguish | Extreme pain or suffering |
| asphalt | A hard black substance used to make roads and paths |
Poetic Appreciation
The poem teaches us that humanity and friendship are the real gold medals in life.
Critical Reflection — Extract 1
B — stopped running.
All eight runners were kind-hearted and compassionate. They valued helping a fellow athlete more than winning the race.
The tone is admiring and emotional. The poet is full of respect and appreciation for the eight athletes who chose kindness over competition.
He must have felt surprised, grateful, and emotionally moved. His sadness and disappointment turned into happiness when he realised that the other runners cared more about him than about winning.
Yes. The moment the eight runners stop to help the fallen boy, the focus shifts from winning to togetherness and compassion. This act changes the entire meaning of the race and makes it unforgettable.
Critical Reflection — Extract 2
They felt extremely happy, proud, and united. Their beaming faces showed they were filled with joy because they had finished as friends, not rivals.
Because they showed true sportsmanship, kindness, and unity. They proved that helping each other is the real victory — representing the true spirit of Special Olympics: inclusion and togetherness.
…a feeling of unity, friendship, togetherness, and support.
A — amazed. Deeply moved and amazed by the kindness shown by the athletes.
The smiles of the nine athletes and the standing ovation expressed much more emotion than words could ever describe. The scene was so touching that no words could capture the love, joy, and pride felt by everyone present.
Long Answer Questions
The first two stanzas describe athletes who have come from all over the country after months of training, with spectators gathered excitedly. This creates a lively, energetic, and competitive atmosphere full of hope — making the act of kindness later stand out even more dramatically.
The transformation symbolises a beautiful change — from competition to compassion, from selfishness to togetherness. It shows that the athletes valued human kindness more than personal victory. This walk became more meaningful than any race.
To highlight the beautiful values of empathy, kindness, and inclusion. The poet wants to show that the true spirit of sports — especially Special Olympics — is not just about winning but about supporting one another. He also wants to inspire readers to be kind and caring in their own lives.
Vocabulary & Collocations
| Example | Adjective | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| standing ovation | standing | ovation |
| gold medals | gold | medals |
| beaming faces | beaming | faces |
| nine special athletes | special | athletes |
| Adjective | Collocating Nouns |
|---|---|
| big | disappointment, failure, surprise, decision |
| heavy | rain, traffic, bag, meal |
| strong | coffee, wind, opinion, smell |
| large | crowd, family, amount, area |
| great | success, idea, friend, opportunity |
| Original | Replaced with |
|---|---|
| “The littlest athlete was moving at a steady pace.” | youngest |
| “The eight athletes had a smiling attitude.” | positive |
| “He gave a huge cry of pain.” | loud |
| “Spectators saw a terrible difference in the athletes.” | significant |
| “The gaudy crowd cheered the runners enthusiastically.” | noisy |
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📅 5 June 2026 · 📍 School Ground