Inspirational Stories
the sports arena . She speaks of a life-altering moment during her accident when she felt an inexplicable strength from above . “ I just lost both of my legs and was waiting alone to be rescued for 47 minutes and with each passing minute I felt stronger . My strength came from the cosmos . I think we are very lucky to be here on earth . I love humanity and I think we are great creators and have the chance to do something with our lives on this planet . I was blessed to have this accident .” As she reflects on her journey , Pascale describes herself as " powerful ," a word that encapsulates her refusal to succumb to victimhood or hopelessness . Her resilience and self-belief are evident in her every action , inspiring others to embrace their own unique power . “ I never saw myself as a victim or feeling hopeless in any situation in life . I ' m now 56 years old and I ’ m realizing that as you get older your life gets easier . It ' s really hard when you ’ re young because you don ' t know anything about life . You don ' t know the world . You don ' t know who you are and it ' s so great when you begin to understand . And for me , I don ' t want to be pretty . I don ' t want to be nice . I don ' t want to be polite . I want to be powerful .”
Being powerful for Pascale goes beyond medals and competition , instead , she relishes pushing her own limits each day . Her enthusiasm for self-improvement and her zest for life are a reminder of the sheer joy that comes from challenging oneself — this is power .
Beyond her sports career and journalism , Pascale is an accomplished author . Her first book , The Dolphin ’ s Boy , tells the heartwarming story of a Deaf Bedouin boy and his dolphin friend , Olin . The book became a bestseller in Europe and inspired a documentary . She is currently writing her autobiography . When asked about her proudest achievement , Pascale does not mention her Olympic accomplishments or journalistic career . Instead , she beams with pride as she talks about her two daughters . Motherhood , she believes , is the most challenging yet rewarding job , requiring constant introspection and dedication but it ' s a role she embraces with the same determination and commitment that define her life .
As for inclusivity and the power of sports to unite people , Pascale offers a powerful message . She believes inclusivity begins with recognizing and celebrating our differences . To her , inclusivity is about being brave enough to say , " This is me , this is my way ," and embracing the courage to connect with others authentically .
Pascale Bercovitch ’ s life reminds us that we should not allow oursselves to be defined by our circumstances . We all have extraordinary potential and regardless of the world ’ s proclivity to categorize and label , we should embrace our individuality and explore the extraordinary potential within us . She encourages us to “ celebrate your uniqueness no matter the obstacles you face and strive for greatness , whatever this may look like for you .”
“ I never saw myself as a victim or feeling hopeless in any situation in life ."~ Pascale
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