Running his first race
Giuseppe Chessari of Canada, left, Ugur Yumuk of Turkey and Cameron Clapp of California celebrate as they train in Edmond, Okla., Wednesday, June 8, 2011. Yumuk will be running at the Endeavor games for the first time. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
The grin on Ugur Yumuk’s face needs no translation. After crawling through childhood in Turkey, along with six years of ill-fitting prosthetic legs, the accomplished swimmer and powerlifting hopeful was able to run for the first time when he came to Oklahoma and received special prosthetics.
I met up with the Turkish-born athlete a few times to follow him through training and running the first race of his life at the Endeavor Games.
Click here for an audio slideshow about Ugur Yumuk and his first race.
Below are a few picture from the slideshow.
Regas Woods of Florida helps Ugur Yumuk of Turkey with his running technique as he trains in Edmond, Okla., Wednesday, June 8, 2011. Yumuk will be running at the Endeavor games for the first time. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Ugur Yumuk of Turkey falls down while training in Edmond, Okla., Wednesday, June 8, 2011. Yumuk will be running at the Endeavor games for the first time. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Ugur Yumuk of Turkey runs on prosthetic legs at the University of Central Oklahoma Wellness Center on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, in Edmond, Okla. Yumuk will be running at the Endeavor games for the first time. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Ugur Yumuk of Turkey, left, with Cameron Clapp of California, and Harvey Parry of the United Kingdom train in Edmond, Okla., Wednesday, June 8, 2011. Yumuk will be running during the Endeavor games for the first time. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Click here to see the entire audio slideshow
-Bryan Terry
Introducing the summer interns
Anil Gurung from the UK dives off the blocks during a practice for the Endeavor Games at UCO's Hamilton Field House in Edmond on Thursday, June 9, 2011. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman
This summer, The Oklahoman’s photography department has three interns. Zach Gray is a student at Oklahoma State University, Ashley R. West is a student at the University of Oklahoma and Garett Fisbeck is a student at the University of Central Oklahoma. Here’s a couple of pictures that they turned in during their first week of work.
You can see photo galleries from the students or our staff photographers by clicking here.
University of Alabama's Jazlyn Lunceford (2) dives for a ball as Jennifer Fenton (7) looks on during the Women's College World Series game between Flordia and Alabama at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Sunday, June 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
Steve Bearfoot participates in the parade during the Red Earth Festival at the Cox Convention Center Friday, June 2, 2011. Photo by Ashley R. West, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Endeavor Games
Dave Nelson of Omaha, Neb., wheeled over to me as I was leaving the track events of the Endeavor Games at Edmond North High School. Nelson was injured in a car accident several years ago and this was his first Endeavor Games. He wanted to tell me how great the event was and how he was excited to tell his friends, family and doctors back home about it. But most of all he wanted to show me his tattoo he got before traveling to Oklahoma for the games. “You have to have a sense of humor,” he said.
Dave Nelson of Omaha, Neb., shows his tattoo he got before traveling to Oklahoma for his first Endeavor Games at Edmond North High School in Edmond, Okla., Sunday, June 14, 2009. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
View all Endeavor Games photos
-Sarah Phipps
